I'm wondering if any of the Calmbirth/Hypnobirth mothers out there used a TENS machine during labour. I'm intent on having a drug-free birth, and although I feel as though I can manage the pain via Calmbirth techniques, I had thought that perhaps it might be a good idea to hire a TENS machine as a contingency plan, just in case. If I find that I am having trouble during labour (I'm hoping this won't be the case), I'd prefer to resort to the TENS than gas or any other chemical form of pain relief.
I suppose I am wondering, though, if using the TENS machine sort of...interrupts the self-induced relaxation/meditative state of Calmbirth practice? I don't want any unnecessary interruptions when I am doing the relaxations and visualisations, and I am trying to decide whether this would be useful or a complete distraction if I feel I am not coping as well as I had hoped. Does anyone else have any experiences or thoughts on this?
I read the hypnobirthing book alot before my 2nd child and would have done the whole thing/ classes etc if I could have. I think it helped me prepare for the birth and the baby nicely. Unfortunatley the birth didnt go as planned but the things I had learnt ceratinly helped me through what did happen. I hope whatever method you chose helps you as much.
I am starting calm birth classes soon, and used a TENS last birth, but haven't done both together. BUT I just wanted to say that the TENS is a distraction as you keep having to adjust it, so Im not sure it would go that well with what you've learnt. Saying that though, it is probably worth hiring a TENS and taking it anyway, you might want a break and they are so cheap to hire and easy to use, it wouldn't matter if it didn't work out.
Good luck xo
Hi
I did the calmbirth course and practiced the techniques during my labour and homebirth. I concentrated on breathing slowly all the time and it was really helpful. My midwife brought a tens machine and i gave it a go when the contractions were getting quite intense as I wanted to put off getting in to the pool until I really needed to. I didn't find it helped with the pain at all but i suppose it was a bit of a distraction and it passed a bit of time fiddling about with it. It was easy to get back into my breathing again so that wasn't an issue. I automatically carried on 'calm' breathing anyway. A lot of people find them helpful, even though I didn't, so probably worth getting just to arm yourself with another options (and ways to bombard the senses). I floated around in a huge paddling pool of hot water for ages and it was bliss! Highly recommend that.
Oh, yes - water! I'm still so undecided...I can imagine messing about with the machine would be a bit of a distraction in terms of 'shutting off' your rational brain. I suppose the only reason I was considering it was because it was suggested to me that perhaps I might want a contingency plan for alternative forms of pain relief, just in case I find I can't handle labour. But I kind of think I want to handle it by myself, without other forms of pain relief (chemical or not)! I suppose if I hire one, I could always just have it there, in case, and have my husband be in charge of it so I don't have to think about it. Hmm...thanks so much for your thoughts on this!
I think you have to have strategies prepared for relieving pain, otherwise you might find yourself a bit desperate and panicy and more likely to succumb to chemical pain relief, if it is available. i think it is fantastic that you are being so positive about handling it yourself but it will probably hurt, at least a wee bit! and best to be prepared otherwise you get the 'fear-tension-more pain' thing.
Calmbirth/Hypnobirth and TENS Machine?
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