Did anyone use a tens machine during labour?

[Kmx]

Did it help? Would you recommend it?

I am looking into having as drug free a birth as possible. With my son I had gas and air and dismorphine which made me feel awful. I am looking at hiring a tens machine to see if this may help me but I don't know anyone that has used one before.

I see boots offer the hire of the mamaTENS machine for £39. Is this good?

 

[lau86]

I've been induced twice, with my first and third babies. i used the tens with my first and remember it being good. It's hard to say as I don't know what labour was like without it. My second baby was a natural labour and 3rd was sudden induction so I didn't have chance to pick one up. I think £39 is about right?

 

[gasgirl]

Hi Kmx,

I used a TENS machine during my labour. I found that it worked really well during the early stages and helped take the edge off for the later stages but I needed a bit of gas and air near the end. However, my whole labour was only 7 hours from start of contractions so was pretty quick and it was during the day so had a good nights sleep before it started therefore I still had a lot of mental reserve and wasn't exhausted. This also makes a difference.

I think it works for some and not for others but it's definitely worth a try!

Have you thought of a water birth? It could be a good alternative if it is available at your hospital (or you have one at home if planning birth at home) as can really help sooth pain. I had a bath at home but couldn't lie on my back as it made the contractions more uncomfortable so that didn't help much but would have tried for the water birth if I hadn't delivered whilst it was still filling!

Breathing exercises and relaxation: They don't help with the pain but they help with focusing. I'm the kind of person that was happy to have anything and everything if needs be to help with labour but I really found that having practiced slow breathing beforehand made a massive difference.

You mentioned that diamorphine made you feel awful. They can also give you an antisickness injection or pill to help counteract the nausea if they didn't last time.

I'm sure you know this all anyway so sorry for the long post! xx

 

[Teri7489]

I used it for my first labour and loved it. Very easy to use (even my husband managed to put it on me in a panic lol) it really distracted and gave me a focus other than the pain. I used it from early contractions to 7cm dilated when I got epidural. Only got it as I have terrible back and hip problems which labour was making worse, nor for the contractions themselves. I kept mine and used them for PP pains for both children (2nd was section) and it was a great help. Have a look on eBay. Lots of people sell them cheap but have only used them once xx

 

[SpringCrane]

I used one, and I would totally recommend it! I had two totally "natural" births. With my first, I didn't use anything. 28 hours long and brutally painful! Second time the nurse pulled out the TENS right before transition. Transition + pushing was only 8 minutes, but it was intense. I probably only used it for 15 mins total (of a 14 hour labor). I'm sure it would have been great earlier on, but waiting until I was no longer coping meant it was something new to focus on and helped me get though that last bit. It wasn't offered earlier, so it wasn't a conscious plan to wait. I didn't know they had one available to even ask for it. I think they're still pretty uncommon here in the US. I would have been happy to spend £39, though!

 

[LillyFleur]

I had a long first stage and was offered the TENS after I'd been having contractions for a few hours (I think they recommend using it ASAP when contractions start) I found it more annoying than helpful, I kept turning it up too high by accident OWWW! The sticky pads kept falling off and I kept getting the wires tangled up when I went for a wee.

I second what another poster has said about having a water birth

 

[RaspberryK]

I used my tens before I was able to get in the pool and I think it helped xx

 

[george83]

I used mine with my first and thought it was great, definitely recommend it

 

[DaisyDreamer]

I planned on using a TENS machine, my dear mum even bought one for me at Christmas, but my waters went and contractions came on so quickly that I didn't even think about it. I almost didn't take my green butter supplement I was so frazzled with contractions.
All I could think about was getting in a nice warm bath Maybe next time I will have my wits about me enough to use it.

Or to use it during uncomfortable parts of prodomal labor.

 

[Savannah11]

I used it up until I got into my birthing pool (around 8-9cm) I definitely couldn't of done it without it!! I was able to keep mobile as all I wanted to do was stand up but I don't know wether it just distracted me or helped with the pain but either way it was the best thing I ever had!! (I had a water home birth) xx

 

[topsy]

I used one hun and think it helped xxx