TENS Machine during labour

Hi

Just wondering if anyone has used or plans on using a TENS machine during labour for pain management.

Am looking to hire one but just wanted some feedback before I do - did it help with pain management etc?

TIA

I can't say yet, but I've had one recommended by two girlfriends and have borrowed one for my laborur. Both girls said it made a huge difference for them.

Yes I used one with my DD. I think it helped. My little girl was in a posterior position so it was pretty horrendous pain but seemed more manageable than with my DS who was aslo posterior. The labour was shorter (only 6 hours) and I coped with air and gas only until the end and had to have an epidural for a forceps delivery. I would recommend it, I think it helped me focus and also helped me acheive my VBAC.

Yes I had one for my labour which was induced. DS was posterior so it was pretty intense to say the least, but I found the TENS really helpful, pushing down on the button really does make it much easier to focus on getting through the contraction.

I had one for Pip, and will be having one again. Highly recommend it!!!

Just for the sake of balance, I used one and hated it! I put it on within 45mins of labour starting, so very early as they recommend and I could just never get comfy with it. I didn't like it on my back, I didn't like the sensation of it (once I accidently bumped it up too high and it hurt when I pressed the button at the start of a contraction), I didn't like having to think about when a contraction was coming, and pushing the button and all that mental stuff when I was trying to just "be" and deal with it all. I MUCH preferred being in a warm shower- worked really well for me.

I wont bother with one again as it didn't work for me BUT I would have it again for my first labour without a doubt. It gave me the option of something that MAY have worked for me and my sister had used one with fantastic success for her so I think if it works for you then it was worth having. Another thing in your bag of tricks is never a bad thing.

Hi, I used one with DD. It was my dads, I have been using them since I was little for sports injuries. It was one that was constantly on and you did not have to press any buttons for it to work. I loved it and was even playing UNO with DH while I had it on. But eventually I could not even feel it over my contractions. But it did help me through the beginning so I will probably give it another go this time around.

Thanks guys, I probably will go ahead and hire one - think it's about $10 a week and I like the thought of it being there and giving it a go, instead of always wondering if it would have been any help.

Dad has one, not sure what kind but he lent it out to a relative and it has come back with all the pads & bits missing - so probably just easier to hire it ready to go :)

The sports injury ones are milder than the pregnancy ones, you can turn up the relief on the pregnancy ones ...

Thanks Kazbah - dad had it for a back injury so figure I might be better off hiring a pregnancy one, I can turn up as high as I possibly need :D

Yep I had one & it's the only pain relief I used for the 22 hour labour!! Cannot recommend one enough :D
I really liked having something to focus on - pushing the button. Towards the end it didn't make much of a difference (I thought) but DH told me after that the pads had started to slide off their designated marks. That's one thing I have to say: use duct tape to tape them down as your back does get quite sweaty during labour. My DH insisted on doing this & I was quite annoyed at him but am really glad he did!!