Does price make a difference in TENS machines?

[NatalieJane]

I am hoping for a home birth, with a pool, but would like to have another form of 'natural' pain relief up my sleeve for before I get in the pool, TENS seems the obvious answer. I have looked on eBay just quickly and you can buy brand new ones ranging from £15 up to £60-ish, is this a case of paying for a name, or does it really mean better quality, since I am only intending to use it for the labour, I don't know if it is worth paying £60 odd for something that I don't even know will help.

Can you not hire one? I hired one from my midwife for a donation of about £15 IIRC.

You can hire TENS systems for homebirths.

(seems we are thinking with one brain today, Clary )

Well, I'm not really bothered if it is hired or if I buy one really, but just wanted to know what sort of price we would be looking at for a bought one.

NdP. Great minds.

natalie I never heard of anyone buying one. Unless you suffered with back pain I wouldn;t think it would be any use if not in labour, tho £15 to buy one you could then sell on would be a bargain. No ideas about different makes, but can't see what could make much difference.

Thanks Clary, that's what I thought. TBH, I don't think it will do much more than annoy me, but I am hoping it will take my mind off the contractions for a bit - that has to be worth £15 doesn't it?!!

Actually it really worked for me third time around (lol). Use the boost button frely. And make sure you have the right kind of battery with plenty of juice in it

Well, I am going to order the £15 one from eBay, everyone else on there who has bought one seems happy with it, and it is like I said, I think it will only work on the basis of distraction anyway TBH!

...Of course I am hoping that I won't even have time for distraction in my painless 10 minutes of labour, but I suppose I should be prepared for all eventualities!

hiya just spotted this. You may have already hired/bought one and indeed had your babba.. but anyway in case not, or if someone else is reading then I would definitely hire one rather than buy (unless you can get it for not too much £) I hired one from my hosp and thought it might not come in use particularly as I hoped to have a water birth. I did have a water birth but prior to getting into the pool the Tens machine was superb for me. At home DH massaged my back for however many hours it took (lordy I can't remember now but I think it was a few). Once the hosp had agreed I could come in (they wouldn't believe DH - insisted they speak with me to hear how 'in labour' I was!) we got into the car and he could no longer work his magic on my back. The Tens machine for me was fantastic. It doesn't work for some admittedly but it's worth having one just in case it does. It certainly got me the distance to the hosp and then some. If you do use it try and work up gradually too. Otherwise when you get to level 4 you'll be wishing there were more levels.
Good luck and hope it works for you

Which is best the Femme Elite Tens which you can use for your pelvic floor afterwards, can you use this during labour too? Or is the Elle Tens better for labour and muscle toning afterwards?