Tens as labour pain option??

Hi Everyone,

I was just wondering what peoples options were on the labour TENS machine??

Anyone who has used this machine, what did you like / dislike about it? Was it effective enough for pain management?

I am considering this machine during labour as there is no harm to me or my baby and would prefer this option rather than an epidural as such if it is effective.


Any thoughts / suggestions / opinions greatly appreciated.

Many Thanks in advance

I haven't tried it but want to for this pg as both my babies have been OP so far so I am hoping if I end up with another posterior baby, this will help ease the pain a bit. I was just writing to subscribe to this thread . . .

I know at the Townsville Hospital, the mw gives you the TENS machine ahead of time so you can practice with it before labour to know whether or not you like it. I have my booking in appointment next week so I am going to ask about it then.

Hey Childon

I have heard these are really good. A friend was telling me that she hired one for labour and she found it really good and took her mind off the contractions :)

Hopefully I will let you know in the next 2 weeks. I've hired one for this labour, and currently have a posterior bub to boot.

Thanks for your replies.

Serenity - As you know I have a low pain threshold was considering this as an option. I too have an appointment with my obgyn on friday so I will see what she thinks.

Rayray - All the best with your labour. I look forward to hearing your response.

Hi Chilondaway

I used the TENS machine for my labour in January, 1st baby. I have been reccommending it to everyone I see with a bump in their belly, it was awesome!!!

I went into pre-labour Thursday night, 11pm, and put the TENS on at about 3am Friday morning. Was able to get a bit of sleep but not much. At 9am, took a couple of panadeine, and a couple more at 2pm....that was the last of any pain medication I had! Went into hospital at 5pm, membranes ruptured at 6pm, DD born at 9.15pm. No gas, no peth, no epi, nothing. That TENS was amazing!

Took it off prior to the actual delivery, as I got into a massive bath (Frances Perry House, all birth suites have huge baths in them!) and was pushing half an hour later.

I cannot say enough about how good it was - my husband tried it on after we got out of hospital, 'just to see what it was like', and couldn't turn it up as far as I had it - I started at about level 7, but was on level 13 by the time I got in the bath. There's a reason men don't have babies ;o) So it's not like I was having not-very-bad pains, they were there, the TENS just completely distracted me from feeling them.

It was such a lovely birth (very fast tho - almost didn't make it out of the bath, and (gulp) delivered on the bathroom floor!!) so I am fast working on #2, just waiting for AF to kick start.

I hired mine from labourtens.com.au for $65 plus $19 postage, and it comes with a pre-paid package to post it back to them. Will be definitely hiring it again next time. And the next... and the next... and the next......

Good luck with your delivery, I hope it goes as smoothly as mine did! (I don't mean to brag)
Regards

TENS was awesome. i too managed my labour wth just a TENS. I found it a wonderful distraction, also gave me something to do. I took it off to have a shower and only lasted a few min in the shower as i couldn't wait to put the TENS back on!
I used mine right through the birth, and had it on when i had a few stitches. It was great.

Would definately use one again.

I loved my TENS and have also been recommending to every preggy belly! I went into labour with milde, irregular contractions around midday - at midnight they were starting to get a bit annoying so we put on the TENs machine and I kept it going through the night. At 9am we were in hospital and I kept the TENs on until I got in the bathtub around 4pm. I did have a shot of pethadine around midday when they gave me the syntocin, mostly cause my body hadn't adjusted to the pain increasing when the contraction came hard!

I will definately use one for the next pregnancy, and my Dad's also looking into one for his dodgy back :)