When and How to use TENS machine?

[goggles43]

Hi all,

I’m due in a couple of weeks and have just ordered a Tens Machine for hire.
I’m sure the instructions will tell me what to do when it arrives, but I wanted to ask if anyone can share their experiences on using it.

This is my second pregnancy. I would really like to avoid epidural (like I had for my first).

Am I supposed to have it on as soon as first contractions start?? How quickly will it progress and will I need it?

I can’t stop thinking about this impending labour and birth

Hope someone can share.

Thank you

I used mine from the start of contractions until I got in the pool. I had a very quick labour which was very intense (3 hours from first contraction to birth) and the tens was the only pain relief I had until the last half hour when I got gas and air. It was incredible! Make sure you read the instructions before you go into labour is my advice!

Bump!

Oh sorry @HarrietM87 I didn’t see you reply before bumping. Do you think it was the Tens machine that helped even though it was intense? Hope mine is that quick!! I have no idea what’s going to happen and feel totally unprepared. My first DC, my waters broke and had to be induced. It was all “planned” to an extent so I was expecting everything. This time I feel like I’m going in blind. Thanks for your response by the way.

I was induced too! The gel just seemed to work really well! It did really work for me. I also really focused on timing the “burst” (there’s a button to press to give it extra power) with each transaction which kept me going from one contraction to the next and stopped me feeling overwhelmed by it all.