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Pregnancy

Talk about every stage of pregnancy, from early symptoms to preparing for birth.

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Original poster

How effective was your tens machine?

37 replies

coneywonder · 13/06/2015 16:30

Hi ladies,

Currently weighing up whether it's worse hiring/buying a tens machine for early labour?

I'd like to hear about whether they worked for you and which one you went for if that's ok?

Thanks

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Athenaviolet · 13/06/2015 16:32

I used one. Yeah it was good. Think I got it from a chemist.

LillyBugg · 13/06/2015 16:33

I hired one from my local maternity unit for £5. I feel like the only thing it did was distract me rather than relieve pain. I perhaps started using it too late though, as my contractions went from fine to not fine in a matter of seconds (waters breaking). It kept me occupied in the frantic trip to the hospital! But when I got there I distinctly remember shouting 'get this bloody thing OFF ME!!!'

kavv0809 · 13/06/2015 16:35

I loved it. Familiarise yourself with it first so you know how to increase it etc but I thought it was great, it got me through most of my contractions

LillyBugg · 13/06/2015 16:36

Oh yes that's good advice! Youtubing whilst contracting wasn't ideal.

Original poster

coneywonder · 13/06/2015 16:37

Haha oh right okay. Yeah I've heard they are a distraction more than anything else too.

I will look into whether I can hire one for that cheap!

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Hopelass · 13/06/2015 16:38

I borrowed one and it was a great distraction for the first few hours of early labour

RolyPolierThanThou · 13/06/2015 16:39

I didnt think it did much until he pads came off and I realised it DID work.

Also the boost button (which you use during a contraction) felt like a thousand tiny bee stings for the first second and then felt like a pleasant back scratch.

I only realised how strong the boost button was when I accidentally leaned on the button when I WASN'T having a contraction and hit the roof. Its powerful.

So yes it does work. I hired mine.

Phineyj · 13/06/2015 16:40

I didn't like it, but the friend who lent it to me was keen. I found it heavy and felt like one of those old ladies in the ads with a safety alarm. I loved my birthing pool though!

chickenfuckingpox · 13/06/2015 16:41

make sure you hire a good one mine was from the hospital and faulty so it didnt work then would suddenly briiiiing into life it was definitely a distraction though just at the wrong times

and make sure you take it off too they forgot mine and it scorched my back to be honest once i had the pethadine i forgot everything

RandomMess · 13/06/2015 16:41

I too thought it wasn't that great until the battery ran out...

With my 4th labour I managed with just the tens and gas & air.

BlueBee · 13/06/2015 16:41

Silly question time - where do you stick the pads? I presume on your lower back for some reason, but I don't know.

Original poster

coneywonder · 13/06/2015 16:42

Thanks ladies. I will go and have a look at some prices now. I hope to use the birthing pool too!

OP posts:

LillyBugg · 13/06/2015 16:46

Yes lower back for the pads.

ShootTheMoon · 13/06/2015 17:09

Best thing ever . I only used TENS for my labour and didn't need pain relief at all. I agree it's more of a distraction - and good to have the boost to focus on - but I had it on from early active labour and it was fab.

Original poster

coneywonder · 13/06/2015 17:11

Can I ask which one you used and where you got it from shootthemoon?

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Sylviecat · 13/06/2015 17:17

I hired one and I agree it was fantastic.

I hired it from a place in Portsmouth who were recommended on here as being cheap (I don't live anywhere near Portsmouth!). They were great and it cost less than £20. Think they were called the new road clinic.

GladysTheGolem · 13/06/2015 17:19

Amazing!

Brilliant for afterpains too.

I used a MamaTens, pads atthe bottom of back and some below bra strap.

Pancakeflipper · 13/06/2015 17:22

I loved my tens machine. Used it both pregnancies and didn't need other pain relief but that was probably just luck.

Currently using a tens machine following a back injury and its been way better than the heavy duty pain relief drugs prescribed.

museumum · 13/06/2015 17:24

Hired one. Best thirty quid I've spent in my life. Stayed home with it till 8cm.
Labout started b2b so all the pains in my lower back. Tens was ideal!!

Monkeyinshoes · 13/06/2015 17:31

I used one for the births of both my children and it was brilliant. I didn't realise how much it was helping until I dropped it just as a contraction was starting and so had a contraction without the boost.

I'd advise having spare pads and micro pore tape. In case it's a hot day or you're using it for a while the pads might lose there stickiness. I found out just how strong I had set it when a pad had slipped off and zapped me in the leg.

ShootTheMoon · 13/06/2015 17:45

Sorry coney it was 4 years ago so I don't remember! Something like tensmachinesonlime and I know I didn't get the cheapest option. This time around I plan to hire one via my MW birth unit - apparently I can hire one for £25.

ShootTheMoon · 13/06/2015 17:52

Actually, I have just found my emails. . It was an Elle Tens Machine from TENSMED and it was about £25, including new pads I think.

I put it on as soon as my contractions were regular (almost straight away) and started at a lower level, before increasing the intensity then starting to use boost. I was on hands and knees whenever possible and using the boost was DH's job during transition and pushing. He massaged my back too.

BananaPie · 13/06/2015 18:27

I hired one from www.birthease.co.uk cost about £17 and was definitely worth it!

Monkeyinshoes · 13/06/2015 18:38

Take a look on eBay too. I bought a second hand one on there and bought new pads from Boots.

I kept it for a couple years, used it for two births and it worked out cheaper than hiring one each time. Plus I then sold it and got my money back.

Luckystar1 · 13/06/2015 18:48

I too had no pain relief aside from the TENs. I used it from the first contraction (I was in 'pre-labour' for 48 hours... Joy!), and it was just brilliant. Good luck!!

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