Tens machine

[eternalflame2020]

Hi! I bought a tens machine on a whim without much research and now it's arrived and the booklet says to check with gp before using if pregnant.

Does anyone know if there are any risks of using a tens machine during labour. I've looked up where you would place the pads - if you are not accurate could that cause problems?

Thanks!

Is it a maternity tens machine?

I would talk to a midwife rather than GP.

@dementedpixie I didn't realise there were different types. It's just called a tens machine....Uhoh!

@husbandcallsmepickle yes I'll mention it to midwife and maybe take it along with me at next appt. Just wondered if anyone had used one and had experience.

Thanks

I hired a maternity tens and used it in my first labour. The cables did occasionally disconnect and i got small electric shocks!

I have a generic Boots tens machine and have used it through two labours. I wasn't aware there was a difference in type? It worked really well and I'll be using it again for my third.

Please don’t bother your gp with this. Research what it is that you’ve bought or if you have to speak to your midwife

Sounds like you may not have bought a maternity one (although whether there's any actual difference I don't know). They can't be used during pregnancy because of the risk of inducing labour - obviously not a concern once you're actually in labour.

@pcar20 Oh! I could hardly hear you up there on your high horse. I said the booklet said to ask gp, not that I intended to. If I do ask my midwife it will be at my next scheduled appt.

@spamiam yes I think you're right. I've tried researching if there's specific types but it's not clear.

@teakind that's really helpful, thank you.

A tens machine is listed as pain relief so I don't see why it wouldn't be ok to use in labour. Though like people said there might be different ones. I'd check with the midwife at your next appointment that it's ok to use.

The only difference between a maternity tens and a normal one is that the maternity has a surge button you can use to boost it during contractions. I used my husband's normal tens during early labour

From my NCT class for where to place pads

Hi Op,

My understanding is that you shouldn’t use it during pregnancy and only during labour pains. I haven’t heard anything about a maternity tens machine or an ordinary one. I’m hoping the one I’ve bought is okay! I bought it based on good reviews of people praising it during labour!

@4amWitchingHour that’s interesting about the surge button! I just told my husband to crank it up when I had a contraction but a button sounds easier.

Yeah mine had a boost button when I hired my maternity tens machine

Ahh that makes sense that a maternity specific one would have a boost.

That's reassuring that lots of you have used standard tens machines too. I can see why it would not be advised to use during pregnancy but would be fine for labour.

Thanks for the picture @4amWitchingHour I have screen shot it ready for when the time comes...eek!

I had the Elle plus and I loved it

You could take it to your next midwife appointment (if you get any more face to face) for them to have a quick look if you fancied.

I was really sceptical about Tens but did find it helpful when I was getting random early pains during induction, one of the wires fell out the pad on day two and I could have cried 🤣