Labour pains...when do I put the TENS on?

[addictedtofrazzles]

Hellooooo!

Am hoping to god that this is it...to be fair, I am 41+1 so I bloody well should be getting close! The heat this weekend in London made pregnancy close to Japanese torture...

However, last baby was back to back and I had then tens on to deal with constant low lying back pain in early labour (by established labour I was full of epidural .

This time baby is in the 'right' position and I have just had a show. Am having plenty of contractions (have been having strong BH for last 3 weeks), but now I have that period pain pushing feeling over the bottom of my bump. No real backache yet.

When should I get the TENS on (don't they work better the longer they are on for?) - not in 'pain' yet, just very aware of what is going on IYSWIM?

Thanks ladies

You might not get back ache. I had back labour with dc1 and with dc2 I seriously misjudged going to hosp. Things escalated really quickly and I didn't have time to read the tens instructions in between contractions. So I think you should get it out ready now. Yes I know it's 3 hours later! As soon as you actually really need to use it, call the hosp and ask them if they think you should go in.Good luck.

OOOOOOO - if I could bypass the back pain, that would be a joy! You have given me hope - thank you!

Seeing the MW this pm so will get her to have a 'poke' around and find out what is going on downstairs [sits on bed imagining MW saying she is 5cm dilated already]!!!!

You just never know. I headed into hosp expecting 20 hours of labour with dc2, experienced transition in the car and when i arrived didn't need to be poked about as the mw could see the head.I didn't get back or bump pain just really low down tightening pain at pubic bone level. let's hope dc3 arrives as easily, I'm paranoid that this one will turn back to back at 38w3d like dc1 did. 38w4d today.