Tens machines - recommendations please

[JBroRo]

Hi

Im 35 weeks and starting to get myself organised - hospital bag etc.

Im just looking into tens machines which has confused me somewhat! Like everything else, there seems to be too many choices!

So if anyone has any suggestions on the following Id really appreciate it...

Buy v. hire?

Where from?

Any particular type/brand?

Thanks in advance x

I borrowed one from my midwife for about £5 - it was an ancient old thing but worked perfectly fine. Had a boost button and a dial which meant you could adjust it. Made me think that there is no point getting a fancy all-singing all-dancing one. Might be worth asking your midwife?

Not sure it's worth buying one.

I think Boots hire them out.

By the way, I'm in the "love" camp when it comes to TENS - I'm sure it helped.

I just got mine form Boots both times.

I think I'd spent so long agonising over pushchairs, car seats, slings, cots, mattresses, sleepsuits, nappies...................... you name it, I worried about it that by time I thought about TENS machines, I just went for the easy option.

Both times, it was fab.

im currently using the Lloyds pharmacy own brand dual action one (4 pads) for my SPD pain (dr advised me to take it) and it works fairly well, although admittedly i cant turn up the dial fairly much without it becoming too painful from the TENS, more painful than the pain im trying to get rid of.

i find that keeping it on a lower level where i can just about feel it pulsing (whatever the phrase is) for long times helps more than intense bursts, but each to their own, its not doing much for me and my pads have become unsticky fairly quickly and i cant really afford to keep buying a new set of pads for every 24hrs, but i would imagine for labour it would be completely fine, its not like your sleeping in them

I have hired each time from Boots

You definitely need a maternity one for labour - the surge button is a must for during contractions (just remember to switch back once the contraction has ended, otherwise the next contraction is awful!)

I hired mine from babycareTENS was a great service and highly recommend using one in labour. My husband swears by TENS generally but I find it very irritating, didn't want to take the pregnancy one off during labour though.

Cinnamongreyhound - does this look like the one you used?

www.babycaretens.com/acatalog/Elle_TENS.html

mine is one for labour, its the only one safe for 37weeks +, but mine was reccomended to be used by the dr now because of the pain. there are lots to choose from, at least you have a choice and can work off recommendations, hiring one might be the cheaper option

I found Lloyds to be the best value.

I had this one, it by Nature's Gate and is a more powerful model than many in the high street. here

This is it full price on the Nature's Gate site here

The great thing about it is that once you are done you can sell it on ebay and get most of what you paid back. I did this and overall it only costed about £10 to have it.

Lloyd's Pharmacy was the one I used - bought it on the way to the hospital! Absolutely fantastic. I could be a sales person for TENS

I always hire mine (mama tens) from Mothercare. It's a great service. About £37 for a month. If you go past your due date, you just give them a ring and they'll extend the rental time free of charge - then you pack it up and send it back when you're done.

The one from Lloyds is only £30 and you get to keep it...

Thanks for all your suggestions! Just had a look at the one on the lloyds website which seems good. Going to ring up for a price tomorrow.

Really hope the tens works for me!