TENS machine?

Hiya,
Tossing up whether to hire a TENS machine for labour and was wondering your experiences with them......when did you start using it, how long did you use it for, is it worth it etc. etc.
Thanks :)

A couple of women I have supported have used it and found it useless, and annoying - they had to take them off for showers and baths etc and also from the sense of pain in labour, I think it makes it all worse, because you have to press it early in a contraction to make it work best, so therefore you are effectively sitting there, waiting for each contraction so you can press the button, anticipating each one... not a fan myself but some women find it particularly helpful for back labour (posterior babies) but I wouldn't use it even then as I would be hung up on each contraction - thats just me!

I have seen them used for general muscle aches and pains and for this I would recommend them. However because of how they work I would not recommend them to ease the pain of labour.

Alan- what do you mean by that?

Kelly - isn't that how you need to use gas anyway? Take it as the contraction starts and then stop at the peak?

chocolatecatty - did you end up using it?

The midwife taking our antenatal classes was raving about them and I was feeling like it would be a great option to try to avoid drugs. I know it could be a PITA to take it on and off for showers/baths but I was figuring that mixing up the coping strategies could be a good thing.

Anyone else with +ve or -ve stories to share?

They are great for early labour but really don't do much when it really cranks up. Just more of a distraction than actual pain releif, which I might add is good if you don't actually want pain releif IYKWIM.
I found it more of a releif to take it off and get in the bath by that stage.

Huge TENS fan here. I loved it. I only had a 1 hour 54 labour but it was HIGHLY intense and I had the machine on for most of that time. It definitely took my mind off things, and I didn't use the shower, so wasnt' a problem. Only cost $10 a week to hire so it's one of those things that if you hate it, so what , $10 out of pocket. I recommend trying it. Also I recommend hiring a couple o fweeks before and having a practice. xo

Thanks for the feedback girls. My hospital is having an info session later this week so I'll go and check it out some more.

Blackbird
This is only my thoughts. I have no proof.
TENS use an electric current to cause your muscle to contract. I would be a little concerned how this would effect a contracting uterus

Thanks Alan. I'll see what more I can find out along those lines.

Blackbird - I ended up not using one due to not arranging one really...was thinking about getting one during early labour but that was more out of curiosity.....my SIL swore by hers though.