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Pregnancy

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

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Original poster

Tens Machines - any advice?

13 replies

Lennsuey · 13/02/2008 15:00

Hi,this is my first post on Mumsnet!
I'm wondering if anyone can give me some advice on Tens Machines?
I'm almost 30 weeks pregnant and thinking about pain relief for labour.I'm keen to do things as naturally as possible and i've been told Tens machines are good for relieving pain.
Can anyone suggest a good make as i'm thinking of purchasing one? Also, I'm suffering from back pain quite a bit and wondered if you can use them pre-labour to help reduce the pain?
Any advice would be really helpful. Thanks!

OP posts:

TheDevilWearsPrimark · 13/02/2008 15:04

I know lots of people find them useful but for me it really pissed me off.

My dad uses one for chronic back pain , but obviously he's not pregnant so not sure if it will work the same.

Not very helpful, but thats my experience. Well done for not planning an epidural, as so many do.
I managed fine with a bit of gas and air and sympathetic birth partners who listened to every demand i made.

Lizzzombie · 13/02/2008 15:04

They are fabulous. Totally recommend getting one. I hired mine from Tens-Uk and when I went over due I got my hire period extended for no extra charge.

The only problem is that you can't wear them in the birthing pool!

I am not sure if you can use them pre labour. I think you can though, as I know people use them for general pain relief. Could you ask your midwife?

TheDevilWearsPrimark · 13/02/2008 15:06

Oh, and welcome to mumsnet. Be warned, it is supremely addictive!

Have a look in the antenatal threads for your due in month, they are normally really lovely places to get support and advice.

EmmaKateLouise · 13/02/2008 15:35

I had one with my first and although I'm not convinced it gave me much actual pain relief, it did provide a valuable distraction. Everytime I felt a contraction coming I had to switch it on and fiddle with the strength it to get it just how I needed it, so took my concentration off my contraction.
I went into hospital on the saturday, where they lent me a TENS machine, but got sent home again, so we called in at Boots on the way home and hired one. They asked when we needed it for and I said "Now! I'm in labour at the moment!!" Hurried them up a bit!
I have looked at the Boots website and they are about £30 to hire for 4 weeks. They send it out to you at 37 weeks and you can extend the hire at no extra cost. I will be hiring one in advance this time!

Heated · 13/02/2008 15:45

Also got mine from Boots and it was a bit of a fiddle as a pp said. Check to make sure you have one that has easy-to-reach boost button so it's easy to increase the intensity.

I didn't think the TENs helped much but I had it on & was power-walking round the house in labour (not a good look) and getting to the pushing stage took about 4 hrs which I'm told is quite quick - so my mw said the TENs may well have indeed helped. In fact so quick to I progress and clearly not distressed enough for them, the hosp didn't believe I was ready, sent me away but I started pushing in the car and to turn around & come back!

needahand · 13/02/2008 15:55

I don't think you are supposed to use them before 36 or 37 weeks as it might induce labour I think.

I used some but am not sure they really helped

thinner · 13/02/2008 15:57

It was such a faff to use to be honest, I got better relief from my partner and student midwife rubbing the small of my back. Not that they enjoyed it much, a lot of back rubbing needed in 18 hour labour. Plus be careful with strength. When I asked my partner to take it off me, he accidently turned it up rather than off. Midwife looked shocked at my scream!

dizzydixies · 13/02/2008 16:43

mine was great - its a very individual thing for each person and each labour

now you can correct me if I'm wrong but I think I remember there being something about tens machines specifically for labour being different to those for back pain etc would def check before you buy one as not much point buying one for a one off labour and also not much point buying one for chronic back pain if not allowed to use in labour

hope that makes sense!!!

Original poster

Lennsuey · 14/02/2008 15:15

I've been looking at how much these machines cost, currently weighing up if it's worth the purchase or hire one. Seeing my midwife tomorrow so think i'll ask her about it all. This is my first baby and I would like to have one more after this one, so buying one might be the best option, but only if it works for me! Oh dear, decisions decisions! As if we haven't got enough to think about already!

OP posts:

chiefcookandbottlewasher · 14/02/2008 15:23

i bought mine on amazon for about £50 as dh has a bad back and we knew we'd use it afterwards as well, in fact once i'd progressed to gas and air during labour i looked over to see that he already had it on and was fiddling with the buttons rather than attending to me!! It's an Elle Tens and i found it really useful until it was time to push when as i say i progressed to gas and air. it comes with a boost button so that as soon as you feel a contraction coming you just 'boost' and the pain relief ratchets up to counter it. By the time i was pushing i had it permanently on boost and didn't even notice it to be honest so it is only good for the early stages, but i felt it helped me through really well at the time and meant that i coped with the minimum of pain relief possible. I found it didn't get rid of any pains but made them bearable - i knew it was working when i forgot to press the button once and experienced a full-on contraction in contrast to the toned-down ones with the machine!

Sketchi · 19/02/2008 21:26

It could be the best thing you ever do....I hired mine from my local hospital as they were by far the cheapest to rent.

Started getting contractions and put it on straight away, had it on for the next 15 hours. I ended up not having any other form of pain relief 9as midwves sent me walking round hospital) and before I knew it I was sat TRYING to eat luch in the hospital restaurant when I must have been 8-9cms dialated (still hurt mind).

To this day I believe it was the TENS that saw me through my first labour, and I will beusing it again for my 2nd due in july.

I would at least recommend you give it a go, along with positive thinking!

policywonk · 19/02/2008 21:30

I love TENS - used them in both of my labours (hired from Boots), and in second labour it was the only thing I had. Definitely worth a shot.

If you do buy one and don't like it, I imagine you can always sell it on?

PuppyDogTails · 19/02/2008 21:31

Unfortunately I don't think you can predict whether it will work for you, everyone's different. It did nothing for me, I got more relief from the bath, but I have friends who swore by it. If you can afford it, I would get one, probably buy one if you are planning more than one child (you can always lend it out too!), then if it works for you great!

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