Experiences/opinions on TENS machine please

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

I had a TENS machine and was induced (although was in labour when they induced me) and it worked fine. Although I did keep forgetting to use it because I wasn't in that much pain.

I took it off to use the pool just before I started pushing and didn't put it on again afterwards and it still wasn't painful. I guess it didn't do much for me, but maybe it did - I had it on for about 6 hours while I went from 4cm to 10cm. (But then I was "oooh, that's a contraction, better press the button, ah it's finished now.") I know that having the constant pulsing buzzing there was really relaxing and better than nagging DH for a massage.

I used it again when I had really bad whiplash and backache and DS was 2 months old and I was in a lot of pain but couldn't ignore him: it worked wonders then!

[Nadine216]

OM Blue Earings ... I just wanted to pipe in!! I have not heard about a TENS machine, so I googled it and read "electrical impulse" and just had to shut the darn internet off!!! Do it really work?? Electricution while in labour?? *shiver* I'm one of those who it will not work for ... I will have my baby in the waiting area out of fear of them having to put something that is going to SHOCK me on me!! I have and will not experiance labour, but surely there must be better "pain" control methonds than electricity!!! Ok, electric impluses ...but it still does not take the picture in my head away of my little toe in an electic outlet!! "push hunny, push"

Sorry - I'm being neurotic. Am interessted in how exactly it's helpfull though?

[Ca Plane Pour Moi]

The theory is if you're having electric shocks then the pain centre of the brain is overloaded so you don't feel it.

It's nothing like that. It's like... a gentle pulsing. A soft massage. Your mobile phone on vibrate. It's quite soothing really.

[~Raven~]

Nadine it's not electric shocks! More like impulses that kind of feels like pins and needles and it's fully adjustable for you comfort level. Light for mild contractions and you crank it up as you need to. If you have it on high straight away then it might feel a bit too full on but if you end up using one you'll be surprised at how much you can tolerate the highest setting in the peak of a contraction and it can be comforting!

I found it helpful, especially for my first and second labours. My third labour came on very fast (2 hours in total) and it didn't really help much due to the immediate intensity so I'm undecided whether to use one again. I have a feeling I will though

[BellyBelly]

If you do a search in the labour and birth forum this topic has come up loads, lots of opinions.

[Jac]

Although I did keep forgetting to use it because I wasn't in that much pain.

You are sooooo lucky RF to not be in that much pain during labour - good for you! I often am in awe of these people who didn't find labour to be that painful.

I am not sure if there has been any research done but have heard that using a TENS can assist the speed of your labour. I certainly had a quickish first labour but not sure if that can be contributed in any way to use of TENS or not! The technicial who explained how to use it mentioned this but I didn't look up any research so not sure.

[OceanPrincess]

Just to add my sister's experience with the TENS machine - she loved it. She had it on from about 10pm the night before my niece was born, it helped her to sleep through the start of her contractions, a little bit anyway. She had it quite low at this point.

She kept it on going into the hosp, had it on for the entire duration of the labour and even afterwards when the Dr was stitching her up (only a few stitches!).

She loved the feeling of control it gave her and said it really helped her pain. She only used that and the gas for the birth.

I also agree it isn't electrical shocks - what it does is send a tiny little impulse into the spinal cord, I think to interrupt the pain messages shooting up and down the spine.

Anyway my sister loved it and I'm definitely getting one for Feb!

[lestyrox]

Thanks everyone, i'm thinking i might get one and give it a try and then if it doesn't work my hubby can always use it for footy injuries.. i've heard they're good for that too!
My last labour was all in my back so i think the TENS machine would probably work well for me if i have back labour again this time.
Thanks!

[diva det]

Just a question?
Where do you get them from?
I'm in Melb

odette

[OceanPrincess]

Odette, my sister hired hers through the Mercy hospital where she was booked in for delivery.

You need to register to hire one a while before birth and then they give it to you a week or so before your EDD I think.

Ask your hospital/midwife/obs - that's what I'll be doing when it gets a bit closer.

[meow]

I tried one and hated it... the electric pulses felt icky and it hurt me a couple of times. I also hated the pads on my back. I still ended up with a drug free labour.
My sister swore by it when she used one though.