What are your experiences of TENs machines?

[Princesspowersparkle]

Hi All, am currently 27 weeks and am thinking about pain relief. I'n not a big fan of epidurals/ pethadine (although don't get me wrong, if I need it, I'll have it). I want to use a pool, but if this is not available I'd like a back up! So, my question is, have any of you used TENs machines, and if so, how did you find it?
Thank you!
PPS 27+2 xx

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MNHQ Update
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I would have happily smashed mine into a fine powder, both times.

For me it was the equivalent of having somone irritatingly prod me in the side repeatedly, or flick my ear, or something that just made me want to scream. In fact, both times i tore it off after a few hours of fiddling with the annoying little buttons and feeling a pathetic little niggling crackle RAAAHHHH!

But i've heard its been quite a nice distraction for other people, so, you never know!

what does it feel like??
spiders,scabies,pins and needles take your pick!!

A midwife plopped one on me at my DHs insistent during active labour at which point I yelled 'get that fecking spider off my back' for twelve minutes before I tore it off myself and threw it at DH (darn good shot too).

However it did distract me from the pain of contractions for long enough to chuck it so it must have been slightly okayish

TBH labour didn't hurt that much though. I thought it was like really bad period pains. The good thing is that they come on, then get really bad for a few seconds, then abate (and you are ENORMOUSLY grateful).

Until the next one.

Useless - in fact worse than useless becasue the fidling round with it drove me to distraction. I found in the early stages just walking about best and then in hospital the gas & air brilliant.

It was ok to start with, but I kept putting it on boost when contractions got more severe and forgetting to turn it off when they subsided! I kept feeling this odd humming going through me. I spent a lot of time going 'whats that noise?' 'why do I feel like I am vibrating?' before realising it was the machine. I found it quite annoying after the initial contractions moved into the next phase and took it off.
But I have heard of other more positive experiences too.

I used one - found it useful in the first stage but didn't make much difference in the pushing stage, it was permanently on boost and I still couldn't feel it! But I would definitely get one again next time.

feels like pins and needles v bad

but nothing in comparison to contractions

you have to use it right from the off tho

I got to 9 cm with it because no-one actually knew I was in labour (long story)

after that I was screaming at dh if he forgot to push the little button, it really made a difference

did need Extra Stuff by that point tho

get one

if you don't like it you can always switch it off

if you don't get one you'll never know

I used TENS for both my pregnancies and thought it was wonderful in the early stages. Takes a bit of getting used to but if you whack up the boost at the right time I found it really did help to take the edge off the pain.

I used one and found it quite irritating. Don't think I'd go without one next time though in case I realise it had been helpful IYSWIM!
I think I took it off before the end - "get that thing off me" or words to that effect!

By the way - I've heard that it builds up the longer you have it on so use it as early as possible when labour starts. That might have been why I didn't feel like it did any good - only had it on for 3 hours.

I´m due on wednesday and desperately waiting for my TENS to arrive in the post so if anything happens in the next few days I´ll let you know how I get on. I bought one of those freedom tens machines, they are dead cheap (20 quid I think) so not much to lose.

And I´ll probably be up for selling mine on after so let me know if you´re interested - If not, google freedom tens anyway cos even brand new they´re cheaper than hiring..

It made me throw up - bit like travel sickness but then I tend to get that anyway.. Having said that lots of people I know really liked it so it is worth a try - you can always take it off....

Thanks Marveta- hope all goes well for you this week and your TENs and Baby arrive safely!!
Thanks to everyone else who replied. I think that as they aren't expensive I will get one, and then if it works, great and if it doesn't then I haven't really lost anything!

XXX

Sorry- MAVETA not MaRveta! XXXX

I'm glad this thread was started because I'd completely dismissed using a tens machine again. I'd used it when having DS1 but he was posterior and the tens didn't have any effect apart from being annoying, therefore I didn't hire one with DS2. I'm pregnant with DC3 and after reading these messages I think I might try the tens again. Thanks ladies

Thanks! I left it so late because I live abroad so hiring for me was out and some of them can be quite expensive. But when I saw the Freedom ones so cheap I kind of figured it can´t hurt.. and if it´s no use it can always be flogged on ebay

Hi I hired one as I didnt want to just shove it in a cupboard in case I needed it again(got enough rubbish!)

I would definately recomend the tens machine. I used it up til 8cm and it was great! i hire mine from www.babytens.net