Tens machine?

chickaroonee

Did anyone find this helped in labour?

I'm a bit sceptical, but midwife says it helps some and it's worth a shot. Apparently we can hire one, but have noticed they're £30 at lloyds pharmacy which doesn't seem too bad, does anyone know of any other places to buy?

Thanks

taliwillow

Hello,

I decided to buy a new TENS Machine for my labour as I figured that based on how much they were going for on ebay that the loss I would make on it would be less than it would cost me to hire one and I could keep it as long as I want. I went on to have another baby so used it for that labour too but have now sold it as I have no intention of having any more children. If I ever did become pregnant again I would most certainly purchase another TENS Machine as I really do believe it helped. My labours were still very painful but I think they would have been much worse without it.

I hope that helps.

Taliwillow

chelle230

I actually hired one as they seemed quite expensive when I was pregnant, would highly recommend them, will be using again when we have another

mumslave

I hired one with my first labour. I would say its very good when you are in the early stages of labour but not good at all when things hot up. In fact the pulses just irritated me by that stage.

Glamazon

hi chick

I bought one of ebay for about £25 - I went into labour a couple of days after receiving it so was reading the instructions whilst contracting!

I did find it useful for the contraction stages but I couldn't work out how to turn it up onto the more intense stage for the pushing so just did without. I kept it on whilst delivering the placenta and for the after pains and found it helped for them as well.

My sister borrowed it when she had her LO and said it was useful and I will be keeping it for the next one

74jax

I used one when I had my daughter and it just got in the way, wires etc. Mind you this was almost 12 years ago so they may be designed differently nowadays.

rze1979

I borrowed one from a close friend who swore by it. To be honest I found it of no use at all but it did give my husband something to do in the early stages of labour while he adjusted it and kept the wires out of my way!
My friend thinks it helped loads with her 2 labours but I didn't bother to borrow it 2nd time round. I guess it just depends on the person/labour etc.
If u can borrow one and save the pennies then great, but if not it can't do any harm to buy one.
Good luck.

xmaslolly76

Before you buy the lloyds one just check that it is suitable for use in labour as not all machines are. If its not then Toys r us do one at about the same price that deffinately is for labour :-)

meritaten

xmaslolly is right - I have a tens machine for lower back pain. its really good when i am having spasm pain.
but right there in bold red print on the instructions booklet
Not recommended for use in Labour.
so check carefully that yours is - oh and if you can have a play with it first to find your comfort setting - it varies from person to person. always start off with the machine on lowest setting and increase gradually until it becomes a definate tingle - not discomfort.
some machines are not recommended to be used for long periods of time so this may be why they arent recommended for labour.
oh and make sure you have spare batteries!

chickaroonee

Yes checked on the lloyds website, it's definitely the labour one (although I did see some that said not for use in labour as well).

Sounds like it's worth a shot!

xmaslolly76

Go for it then chick end of the day it will either help or it wont and if it doesnt you can always sell it on ebay for at least half of what you have paid so will cost you less than hiring one and you get to keep it for as long as needed :-)