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I've got a TENS machine all set and ready to go, but was wondering how many people its actually worked for?
At what point in your labour (eg roughly how many cms dilated etc) did you start using it?
Did you still end up using other pain relief eg gas, epidural?
Have used a TENS for both my labours and nothing else, popped it on at first sign of labour. I found it to be very effective. I also liked how pressing down the button gave me something to do and focus on :)
Used it right from the beginning (and in the weeks leading up to ease the BH). It definitely made a difference right up until pushing stage. Would totally recommend it, and will be using it again this time round.
I had it for my induction, it was awesome!!! I had to get dh to press the button half way through but he did a get job and if he forgot a swift reminder soon headed his way, i think it was good for him to have something to do as well, I didn't really notice it the last 2 hours though
I used it for DD1, was an induction and worked well in the early stages but the contractions came on quickly and hard, after a while I could not feel it over the contractions. I did not use it for DD2, did not need it.
I don't understand how a tens machine works. Aren't tens machines painful? How does pain help pain?
Tens machines aren't painful, they're like a massage. I loved mine for sports injuries and to help ease back pain while pregnant but during labour I hated it and didn't want the thing near me! Lots of people love them tho, funny how you just can't tell what you will or won't want during labour :)
They don't hurt they feel kinda like shower water drumming on your back it does hurt a bit if you start straight off on high setting but not if you start low and work your way up with contractions
I used mine right from the start with the first, up til I got in the bath at about 4cm, then on and off as I was in and out of the water.
With the second I had it on from first contraction (but was already at 4 cm by then, possibly more) until I got in the bath, which was an hour or so later, so maybe 6cm? Then put it back on when I got out of the bath in transition, to go to the hospy. Could not have made it to the hospy without it!
Loved the tens! I just began to use it when I felt like I needed some help with the contractions. You will know when the right time is for you. Make sure you've done a class in how to use it- mine was at the hospital.
I had the tens on permanently when my contractions got stronger. I didn't even realist I was holding the button down constantly. Next time ill know to get to the birth centre before that stage cause we had an unplanned home birth but the tens really helped.
How many epic pad things did everyone go through? Or are they reusable? I only used 1 set (hope you don't mind me asking)
Just 1 set. They were $30 for an extra set and as long as your skin is dry they stick well. Oh and store them stuck to the backing film to keep them sticky.
Worked for me. I didn't use any other pain relief with DD2. Labour was much much easier to handle than with DD1 when I didn't use it. I also only ever needed to get up to about level 3. It did feel painful for me if I put it on too high, was a mixture between pins and needles and a back ache but I think that's part of how it works, i.e. gate control theory of pain. It also helps stimulate pain relief endorphins in your body. And a great distraction.
You put it on at the start of labour so you can build it up as the contractions get stronger. I only used one set as well. Took it off to get in the shower and put it back on after.
I just went through one set of four, but it came with replacement sets. My entire TENS machines and pads cost about $24 on ebay. (have a look under 'massager', and not just TENS, you will find a lot more options, but they are the same thing, just different programs)
;)
They worked for me until I had to be monitored. Which meant I couldn't use it anymore. At that stage I was abt 5cm. Ended up with a bit of gas & water injections. I would have use tens for longer if I could.
I used mine from first cx with dd and took it off at about 6.5cm when I went to hospital for monitoring. Didn't have time with DS but had one ready to go!
Pretty much that, exactly, except I didn't have a chance to get it on with DS1 so didn't bother hiring it with DS2.:
Veus: I was monitored my whole labour and had tens on the whole time odd you couldn't
Pretty sure just the one set, DH stuck mine down with duct tape as he was worried they would come off lol!:
Oh and as for how it works - the theory is it dulls the pain by over stimulating the nerves. Feels like pins and needles.
Did they say why you couldn't use it during monitoring? I'm going for a VBAC and will have a lot (potentially continuous) monitoring. So it will throw my plans if I can't use the TENS! Though I could still use it at home of course before going to hospy.:
Thanks for all the replies girls - am feeling very positive about this now!
I think it was more because they couldn't get the 'wireless' one on me. And so i think that interferes with the head probe one. And cause I've been having contractions for days and not much progress. I was a bit 'concern' when they took it off me but it was much more manageable than I thought. I think being the first one I needed a 'comfort' thing. Have faith in yourself. You can do it. Look forward to hearing your birth story. :):
Thanks veus :)
I used it from a few hours before 4cm (it took me 8 hours to get that far) and then for the next 8 hours, when I was 5-6 or 8-9cm, depending which mw I wanted to believe. It was AWESOME for me, until the boost button started to misbehave and only worked intermittently. In retrospect I remember being advised to put fresh batteries in if that happened, but I didn't remember at the time, and I ended up needing an epidural, because the pain was pretty severe when the boost button didn't do its job. I reckon I could have gone right to the end with only the TENS if I'd remembered to change the batteries.
I had to turn it off when they actually doing the monitoring (about ten minutes where the machine check bubs heartbeat etc, when I first went in), but didn't have to unstrap it.