Reply With QuoteI thought it helped a little. What I liked about it was that it was another drug-free option that I had up my sleeve. You may not use it but if the pads are not expensive, then its another option open to you.
HTH xox
Registered User
TENS - worthwhile or not?
I recently attended baby class at my hospital. They said they do have a TENS machine available for birthing Mum's to use (we just have to bring our own sticky pads to use with the machine). But we don't go up to the hospital until contractions are 5 mins apart....
So my question: is the TENS machine still worth using at that stage of labour? I thought it was better in prelabour/early labour. I'm just wondering whether I should go buy the pads or not.
TIA
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I thought it helped a little. What I liked about it was that it was another drug-free option that I had up my sleeve. You may not use it but if the pads are not expensive, then its another option open to you.
HTH xox
Registered User
Great point winter, another option is always good
It is better to use a Tens from early in labour... it may not be much help at later stages as the tens signals work on flooding the neural pathway and 'stopping' the pain messages from getting through to your brain. Once you are in established labour it is harder for the machine to compete with the pain messages.
If you are interested in using drug free pain options and are considering using TENS it may be worth looking into hiring one. I don't think that it is too expensive. There have been a number of previous posts here on BB about women who have used TENS machines, with a variety of experiences. If you look them up it may help you make a decision!
BTW I loved mine!
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I've hired one because I think it sounds like something that is worth a shot. All up it has cost me $80 to hire it and that includes the electrode pads (plus a $40 deposit that I will get back when I return it). I think that's pretty good value considering that I picked up at 36 weeks and don't have to return it until after bubs is born.
If you are interested in using one, I really would advise that you hire one. I've spoken to a few people who have used them and the only ones who found them of value where those who put it on as soon as their contractions started (before they were painful).
You can PM if you want details about where I hired mine.
Registered User
TENS will help at contractions 5 mins apart but you'd be better off hiring one so you can use it at home earlier than that. Sometimes contractions can be a bit hurty but not close enough or long enough to go to hospital for IYKWIM.
Also what if you get there and someone else is using it? Missed out!
On a side note I wish I'd bought my own. After hiring one for each of my 4 births I'd have paid for it easily lol
BellyBelly Member
I am partly just subscribing to the thread because I am planning to use a TENS machine in my next labour. I have an appointment with a phsyio around 30 weeks to learn how to use it and I get to take it home so I can practice with it before I am actually in labour. Mine is from the Townsville Hospital - I pay $50 deposit that I get back when I return the machine.
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I have hired one too. I guess its an option to give it a go. At least if it doesn't work there are still other options available at the hospital.
Best of luck
BellyBelly Member
TENS is much more effective if it's used from early in labour.
By the time your contractions are five minutes apart, if you haven't had it on already it's probably not going to help much.
You can hire them fairly cheaply so you can have one at home to use from the beginning of labour - but I wouldn't be counting on strapping one on when you get to the hospital in established labour, it's not likely to be much use by then.
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Tobily is right, it isn't much use if you start using it in established labour.
I used it at home before I went into hospital, and it made a slight difference. I took i off when I got to hospital because I got in the bath. I tried it again after the bath (I was in the bath for hours and hours) and it did nothing.
The pads cost me $25 for 4. I hired mine for $10/week plus a $50 deposit. It is so cheap that it is worth a go.
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Having had 2 babies (drug free/natural) using a TENS machine for both, I would not consider attempting labour without one should I have another child! It was the major factor that got me through without needing any other pain relief. I would pay thousands for one if it came to that! And yes, as mentioned above, you need it from start of labour for it to be effective (not once you get to hospital).
For those considering using one, I recommend being very familiar with how the machine works well before you go into labour, otherwise it may not be effective as you can't learn to use it while in labour IMO. I would forgo use of water in preference to the TENS myself (personal experience/opinion of course).
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Hey Jac. Great to hear you had such a good experience with the TENS, I'm hoping that I will be the same. Just wondering how early you should put it on? As a first timer I'm not sure how I will know that it's actually labor beginning (I had a few hours of what I thought were contractions on Friday and almost put it on, but glad I didn't cos they petered out and turned out to be nothing). I don't want to get the electrodes out and use my wipes etc only to find out that it's not the real thing if you know what I mean. Any tips of when to put it on would be really good. Thanx
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I tried the TENS machine at our antenatal classes and really liked it, and considered hiring on.
Never got around to it, but when I was in labour i had all back labour, posterior baby, and could not stand ANYTHING at all on my back. Not a hand held massager, not someone rubbing my back, not ANYTHING!
I was so glad I didn't spend the money on one to hire cause I couldn't have used it.
In other words, i guess it would differ alot from one person to the next, and your body's sensations react very differently in labour!
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Miss excited - I was having contractions overnight with #2 and was unaware that it was actual labour until 2 hours before she was born. I put the TENS on then (2hrs before baby was born), when the contractions were becoming difficult to manage, as opposed to merely uncomfortable. I did not really think I was in labour until that moment anyway. With # 1 I put the TENS on as soon as I felt I 'needed' something to help manage the pain - which is I guess the key. If the pain is mild and managable then I personally wouldn't start the TENS (particularly if first baby and you are not sure if labout has really started), but when it becomes a little more intense/frequent, then I would put it on. I guess it depends on your pain tolerence a bit!
If you start using it early though, you can start on a really low setting and gradually increase it as needed so shouldn't really matter if you pop it on straight away. Where ever you hire it from should be able to give you specific directions as to when to start using it. I was told to put it on as soon as contractions commenced.
Dee - I also found back massage of any kind unbearable during labour, but found the TENS to be a completely different sensation/distraction as I could control the intensity myself and use it when I wanted (or not!). In general, it is considered particularly helpful for back labour. You might have very well hated it though!
BellyBelly Member
Both my babies were posterior and all I wanted was heat packs so I am really hoping that a TENS will help. I am also really hoping that I am not having a posterior baby this time.
I think Dee is right - everyone is so different in labour, but it doesn't hurt to have extra pain management up your sleeve. If you don't use it then oh well, try something else but if it works - fantastic!!!
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I found them itchy. Good to have something to focus on though.
I probably used them too late, as some of the other mums have said.
Still, a good pain free alternative.
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I'm a bit confused - is the effect accumulative? Is it best to put it on before it hurts to help block the pain messages when labour is more advanced or does it not make any difference? Gee I hope that made sense!
Registered User
A bit of a tangent here but... I had a posterior baby / labour, and when I stopped using the TENS I found that sterile water injections (SWI) really helped with the back pain (SWI does bugger all for contraction pain though). Word of warning - it stings when it goes in. A lot. It stings like 100 wasp stings. You have been warned LOL. But in the end I think the pain of it going in was worth it.
Another tangent... I love your girl's name!!! We called our little girl Xanthe Grace and people are always commenting on how beautiful her name is.
BellyBelly Member
Another tangent... I love your girl's name!!! We called our little girl Xanthe Grace and people are always commenting on how beautiful her name is
We haven't decided on a middle name but Grace is one of the top two on our list. I think it is very pretty.
I don't know much about sterile water injections . . . I think I will have a look into them. I have had an epidural in my last 2 pg and didn't feel a thing when they gave me the local in my spine for that - I don't know how sterile water injection pain would compare in normal circumstances but in posterior labour the pain in my back has been so bad, I didn't feel anything else they were doing to me so I might not feel those either. I am normally not very good with needles and especially injections but labour is a whole different ball game. I am thinking I want to avoid an epidural this time but I am leaving my options open.
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