Tens machines

[MadamRose]

I having a homebirth so only having certian pain relief. I was gonna have pethadine but when i had homebirth visit i found out i have to get perscription yourself and the MW's cant carry the reversal for if its given and you end up having baby quicke than expected so decided not to have that. I was only gonna have it as a back up anyway.
Well i want to a birth eductuon thing yesterday and the MW there suggested a tens. Well ive never used one just wondering if anyone else had used a tens machine especially in labour and do they work?

I can rent one from 38weeks from my local hospital for £15 which covers you to go overdue and also time to get it back.

 

[hmaz]

I haven't tried one as this is my first pregnancy but I have borrowed a tens machine from a friend for when labour begins, as she said it really helped her with the early stages of labour. She only used the tens machine and gas & air xx

 

[buttonnose82]

this is my first baby but we have one for labour, I have 2 friends that have recently given birth and both have recommended tens machines

 

[choc]

I am going to be using one, and I paid more than that to hire it! I say go for it!

 

[Mrs_N]

Mine just arrived in the post today!
I have heard very good things about them from friends, but you need to make sure you put them on quite early as it takes a while to work. Getting one with a boost button is a good idea, as you can then use that during contractions if necessary.
I plan to use it at home, and then when we transfer to hospital I hope to get in the birthing pool so will obviously have to take it off then!
I've also heard they are good for the 3rd stage if you have a natural delivery of the placenta, so planning on putting it back on for that.

 

[Kitten-B]

Have heard mixed reviews but def worth a try I think! Esp as no side effects. Can rent them from our hospital for free as well.

I'm hoping to use the home-from-home bit at my hospital - so pethidine and epidurals aren't administered there.

I've been planning (if things go to plan of course!) to use parcetamol (early labour but worth remembering!), TENS, a birthing ball, gas & air and most importantly the birthing pool for pain relief.

Can you use gas and air at home? Have you thought of hiring a pool (even just for the labour as opposed to the birth) - heard such good things about the water!

Anyway I think for £15 TENS must definitely be worth a go!

 

[MadamRose]

Yes i know i can have gas and air at home, we ahvent really got the space to fit a birthing pool in.

 

[ttc_lolly]

I plan on getting a TENS machine too, from my understanding and info given to me from my MW/ladies that have used them, they only really work in the 1st stages of labour and they are more of a ''distraction'' from the pain rather than taking it away iykwim? For £15 it sounds like u have a really good deal! MW's usually have g&a with them for homebirths too, are u not wanting to use that? x

 

[MadamRose]

Yes i want to use the gas and air, but nothing else other than maybe a tens. Im not sure whether if im using the gas and ait wheter the get a tens to. And which is most effective in each stage iykwim. theres where im confused as if gas and ait should be effective enough for th ewhole thing i dont mind that, but im a bit confused.

 

[ttc_lolly]

Well I know alot more ladies that have used g&a through out the whole stages of their labour rather than a TENS! But if I was u I'd still get the TENS as for £15 thats a bargain! And your MW will have g&a there for u to try and then u can give them both a bash! lol! x