Tens machine - Is there anything special about the maternity/labour ones?

[roundabout1]

I already have a tens machine (normal not one intended for labour) & planned to use it last time round but ended up forgetting to pack it & used a hospital one instead. Apart from the pads being bigger (which I can get bigger replacement ones anyway) & there being less programmes to choose from I couldn't figure out much difference between them. All the info on it says not to be used in labour & the ones intended for labour tend to say only to be used for that purpose. Does anyone know if there's any reason for this? Thanks

Yes there is a difference. The labour ones have different pads. There are two larger ones for higher up your back muslces (along your spine) and one which is long and is supposed to go across your lower back. I think you can use normal tens machine but may find it less effective as the pads are much smaller. I also think, but not sure about this, that the labour tens machines have more settings and stronger current in it to allow you to move from first stage of labour right through to the third if you wanted too (different settings for different contraction pains). Whether you use all of the settings is another matter entierly though. I found I mostly used one setting and brought the current up as high as I could and then boosted on top of that for the really smarting contraction. Go to a pharmacy and ask them if current is different in labour tens and if its the same as your tens machine check if you can buy larger pads. If you need to rent a machine don't leave it too long before your duedate because their often booked out. Good luck!