TENS

[Brunette01]

Has anyone used a tens machine as pain relief during labour. The midwife holding our ante natal class said she found she didn't need anything else with one of her children.

So I'm asking how you found it? Did it work well? I don't personally know anyone who has used one but as I think I don't want to use drugs during labour it could be a good idea.

[jackrose]

I used one and found it incredibly helpful. I mostly noticed how effective it was when I took it off!! However, I found most of the midwives I dealt with during labour were skeptical about it and kept inferring that it wasn't doing anything - hence me not being too committed to it and giving in to removing it too readily. As I said though, I quickly put it back on again.

I have also had a number of friends use one and they have all found it very helpful - except the friend who had a 3 hour Labour... no time to worry about pain relieving techniques there!

I think I don't want to use drugs during labour it could be a good idea.

I think the general rule is that it doesn't work for everyone, but it is certainly worth a good go before resorting to some more interventionist methods of pain relief.

The most important thing with a TENS is to get it on early in Labour at a really low level. Apparently if you go too long without it, you may find that it is not as effective at relieving pain. If you start low you can up the 'dose' as you go.

And a little helpful advice on prices, sometimes the specific 'maternity' TENS can be really really expensive in comparison to other models. Generally they all do the same thing its just that the maternity models are a tad more user friendly. I used a sports model which was just fine to use and 1/3 the price. If you familiarise yourself with one before you hit Labour you should be fine with a non-maternity model.

all the best!

[~Raven~]

I used TENS and found that for the longer labour it really helped, but for the shorter ones I had (2 hrs or less) it didn't. Probably because the body didn't have time to build up natural endorphins.
I say give it a go. It's really not a huge cost to hire one and if it's not your thing you can have fun playing with it doing crazy things to your muscles to lighten the mood

[Cassius2]

I havent used one personally, but a couple of the mums in my group have and swear by them. they all said that the trick is to know how it works before you go in and to get it on early...

[Brunette01]

Thanks for your views... I think I'll try to organise hiring one.

seeing as this is all new to me, when you use the shower or bath how long are you likely to be in it? I mean during labour not just every day!?

[Cassius2]

I used the shower (at hossy...i went into labour while i was there) for approx 1 hour. i dragged a chair in there so that i could do some hip rocks or sit backwards on it to help ease through the contractions or just held on to it to help get through each contraction. i would have used it longer i think if i had of had more support from ppl in there. the m/w just helped turn it on and get me out of the gown and DH (bless him) was sleeping soundly away...(this was around 2am). in the end i got out as i was starting to feel quite weak in the legs and just wanted to rest my limbs. i found that it really helped to distract me. at that point contrax were about 1 minute apart and lasting for ages at a time so needed to vary my coping strategies. about 30 minutes later i hit transition and 30 minutes after that i started pushing...so i think that it helped me ease into the next really intense transition stage alot and got things going...HTH

[Mumma2three]

I had a short labour too (less than 2 hours) so I found that even though it distracted me, it didn't "work". It's interesting to hear it worked better in longer labours, I thought it might. Definitely worth a try anyway, as there's nothing to lose. xo

[deni]

Hi Brunette, I'm planning to use TENS too. I've hired and had some training from the physio dept at the hospital.

My plan is to get it on early, utilise with breathing/relaxation techniques, and if it doesn't cover me for transition then I'm thinking I'll try hot shower and possibly gas at that point - unfortunately you can't use TENS in the shower so it'll have to come off then. But if it works for transition too I'll be pretty pleased. The MamaTENS unit I hired has a "booster" button that ramps up the intensity for during heavier contractions.

Not been in labour yet though so I'll have to see how I go with it!

Don't forget to pack extra batteries in case you're in for a long labour!

[blue daisy]

TENs has scientific merit

transcutaneous epithelial nerve stimatulation...the TENS machine works on the principle of the gate control theory

that is stimulate the receptors of the skin to 'close' the gate to the nerve receptors of the cervix

light touch massage, counter pressure massage, bath, shower, hot/cold compress all have the same effect...stimulating the skin nerve receptors and reducing the interpretation of the cervix receptors by the brain

However, I found most of the midwives I dealt with during labour were skeptical about it and kept inferring that it wasn't doing anything

funny they (the midwveis) could make comment when they were not the ones in labor and using the TENS machine with effect

[blue daisy]

TENs has scientific merit

transcutaneous epithelial nerve stimatulation...the TENS machine works on the principle of the gate control theory

that is stimulate the receptors of the skin to 'close' the gate to the nerve receptors of the cervix

light touch massage, counter pressure massage, bath, shower, hot/cold compress all have the same effect...stimulating the skin nerve receptors and reducing the interpretation of the cervix receptors by the brain

However, I found most of the midwives I dealt with during labour were skeptical about it and kept inferring that it wasn't doing anything

funny they (the midwives) could make comment when they were not the ones in labor and using the TENS machine with effect