Tens machine experiences please!

[rubberducky88]

Had a very traumatic first birth - Shoulder Dystocia leading to a week in neonatal for my poor boy with being transferred for specialist treatment.

This time, I really want to control all factors that might cause it to happen again - I.e no epidural, as active as possible etc etc...

So I'm really investigating some natural pain relief techniques and looking into whether its worth hiring a tens machine?

Experiences please xxx

 

[xJessie91x]

I had no intention of using a tens but decided to try it and it was brilliant! Personally I found it worked better than my waterbirth xx

 

[heres2hoping]

I used one while in labour with my son. I don't have any other labour to compare it too, but I think it worked wonders. I managed to pull off a very long, posterior birth with no drugs. I plan on using it again with this birth. I highly recommend it

 

[d_b]

It was the only thing i used for pain relief when I delivered DS and I found it amazing! Nothing to compare it to but I really do think it helped and I felt in control because I had that little dial to play with, lol. I

 

[shinona]

Totally loved it. It got me through about 20 hours of labour with my son (only chucked it once I got gas and air and then an epidural). I was in labour with him for about 45 hours in total.
With dd, i used the tens machine right through until I was being stitched. I only had gas and air for an hour that time.

Definitely worth trying x

 

[topsy]

I was induced, it got me through most of my labour, but did need gas and air and pethidin towards the end, but that was around the 24 hour into it. I didn't think it helped at the time, but I am pretty sure it did now. I would use one again, I hired mine online. xxx

 

[Cyan]

I liked mine, I had a short labour with my son so I only had the tens until a bit of gas and air right at the end. It definitely helped.

One embarrassing incident though - I had the dial on about 3 early on, but as I shifted myself around I knocked the controller to 10. I screamed SO loudly, it felt like I'd just plugged myself in to the mains! Three midwives came bursting through the door and I had to sheepishly explain what I'd done!

 

[Lilahbear]

I used a tens machine along with paracetamol and codeine and thought it was great. Don't know whether it actually helped with the pain, but was certainly a distraction. I only stopped using it when I was ready to push after 10 hours and unfortunately needed a spinal in the end for a forceps delivery. I definately definately use a tens machine for any future Labour's as im positive it helped.

 

[Caroline:-)]

Well, I'm obviously unusual in this, but I hated it!! I used one with ds1 and can't say for sure whether it helped with the pain (don't think so), but omg, it drove me mad!!! I just found it so annoying! And I went on to have epidural, etc.
I didn't use one this time with ds2 and gave birth with just gas & air.

 

[MindUtopia]

Yes, TENS was great for me. I had a home birth and it was the only pain relief I used besides natal hypnotherapy. I had gas and air there, but never needed it. I didn't even know I was in and through transition until I started to get the urge to push. The key really is starting early. I put it on about 30 minutes or so after I started getting contractions and kept it on until I got in the pool about 6 hours later. Try to put it on before you need it when you aren't really in any discomfort yet. It takes about an hour or two to build up the endorphins to help with any pain, so you really can't start too soon.

Also, because of your previous traumatic experience, I can't recommend trying hypnotherapy enough. I did natal hypnotherapy and think it was the key to a positive, easy birth. My birth was uncomfortable and intense at times and my legs got really tired (was squatting and pushing for 4 hours) but it wasn't that painful even after I took off the TENS. I think it's because I did hypnotherapy. I felt super relaxed and in control.

 

[Sussy]

I used TENS up until I got into the water, not sure how much it helped but I managed a natural water birth with gas and air after using the TENS for hrs. As others have said having the dial to adjust was a distraction and made me feel like I was doing something!

 

[greenlady]

I used a tens machine for both mine and I swear by them. Both times I had it on for around 10-12 hours and took it off to get in the pool. I used gas and air after that. With my second I really felt I could have done the whole thing with just the tens machine, except I wanted to get into the water. For me it was really worth the hire money each time.

 

[w8ing4bean]

It did nothing for me! BUT i had just turned up at the hospital and was being checked over, and while the pool was filling up they put it on me lol. Probs bit late 11 hours into labour lol x

 

[seaweed eater]

Use it, and start in early labor. It was great for me in early labor, then it ran out of batteries and by the time DH had put fresh ones in and started it back up, I was in active labor and found it horribly annoying. I've heard this advice elsewhere too, that it works the best if you start it early and continue using it throughout, rather than starting later.

 

[Lovemybump1]

Maybe I started it too late, but I didnt like it. I had a quick labour, though, so the pains were close together and intense very quickly. It just didnt seem to do anything for me at all!

 

[Rebaby]

LOVED my tens.

First time round I used it in early labour but ended up having my labour accelerated with synto so then started using gas and air and eventually had an epidural.

Second time round I had a homebirth, was planning to use my tens in early labour again and then get into the pool and use gas and air later on but things progressed quickly so ended up staying on the sofa with my tens on and had no other pain relief (apart from 2 paracetamol a couple of hours before!)

I'd borrowed it from a friend but will definitely be investing in one if all goes well with this pregnancy as it was a lifesaver!

 

[spacegirl]

Loved it! Used it for my first and hope to use it again for my second. I bought mine for £60 as I wanted more than one child.

As others have said use it early and also if you think it's not doing anything for you make sure you have it on correctly. My DH moved it to another part of my back (the part it said to put it on-doh!) and OMG it made such a difference!


Cx

 

[sue_88]

For me, honestly, it was a bag of crap.

I used it from Monday - Wednesday when I was being induced and it did nothing but provide a slight distraction. When the syntocinon was hooked up when I was 4cm it was just doing nothing so off it came and epidural went in! Best decision I made.

 

[Mummy Bean]

Had a very traumatic first birth - Shoulder Dystocia leading to a week in neonatal for my poor boy with being transferred for specialist treatment.

This time, I really want to control all factors that might cause it to happen again - I.e no epidural, as active as possible etc etc...

So I'm really investigating some natural pain relief techniques and looking into whether its worth hiring a tens machine?

Experiences please xxx

just noticed our sons are a few days apart and think were due roughly on the same day!

i just bought an Elle's Tens machine of ebay for £25. hoping to stay at home and active for as long as possible - so hopin this helps.

hope you get a better birth this time. x

 

[rubberducky88]

Had a very traumatic first birth - Shoulder Dystocia leading to a week in neonatal for my poor boy with being transferred for specialist treatment.

This time, I really want to control all factors that might cause it to happen again - I.e no epidural, as active as possible etc etc...

So I'm really investigating some natural pain relief techniques and looking into whether its worth hiring a tens machine?

Experiences please xxx

just noticed our sons are a few days apart and think were due roughly on the same day!

i just bought an Elle's Tens machine of ebay for £25. hoping to stay at home and active for as long as possible - so hopin this helps.

hope you get a better birth this time. x

Ahh how amazing is that!

Thank you so much x