TENS machines - opinions please

[IckleLegs1980]

Hi, I've inherited a TENS machine from some friends to help with labour. My friend said she never used it for the birth of her daughter, hence why she has passed it to me.
First baby so naturally I am scared and anxious of labour and have a low pain threshold.

What are your opinions on them? Is it something you use when you start contractions at home, do they work?

I had one when I had DS1. I don’t think it helped with the pain but it gave me something to concentrate on. Between pressing the tens and the contraction timer app on my phone and then turning them both off again after the contraction had passed it really helped me focus on something other than the pain. I’m currently 33 weeks with DS2 and have got one this time around too!

Loved mine and will be using it again this time. I was induced on the drip (supposed to be more painful although I have no yardstick for comparison!) and used the TENS throughout, it was fantastic.

For me it helped with the pain (accidentally stopped it at one port my and felt the difference) and was also a distraction/focus as PP said. If you have one available to use then there is really nothing to lose by giving it a go when your contractions start.

I hired one from the hospital. My baby was back to back and then tens machine was brilliant. All my contractions were in my back and up my bum and I managed 36hours of early labour with the tens machine. I wasn't sure it was working until my dh accidentally turned it off and it was the only time I swore at him the whole time I was in labour. I'm not sure it would have been as good if my pains were at the front but definitely worth trying.

I loved mine, got up to 9cm with just TENS. Ended up with an emergency c-section and they took it off to get epidural in, definitely noticed difference. It just gave me something to focus on. I’d lined up all options though, as there’s no way of knowing whether it’s going to work for you. Not going to lie, epidural felt pretty amazing in comparison but I was able to move about with tens.

I am a massive cynic normally and would have previously said it's BS but I had a difficult long early labour and I used it before the hospital would admit me. It was great! It gave me a good outlet before I could get to the drugs! That and hot baths

I used one every time and will this time, both as distraction and because it took the edge off. I didn't try anything else so can't compare but defo worth a try if you've been given one. I accidentally wore one in the bath and that was bad idea :-)