TENS Machine

TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation and is a natural form of painrelief.

TENS machines have been used for a long time and can help you in the early stages of labour.

A TENS machine is a small box that you hold in your hand with 4 pads attached to it by wires. The pads are places on either side of your spine. You need to place the top two just below your bra-strap and the bottem two at the level of the dimples in your bottom.

The TENS machine delivers electrical signals through conductive electrode pads to stimulate the nerves under your skin. These signals act in two ways: they block the transmission of pain signals travelling in nearby nerves, stopping them going through the spinal cord to the brain. They also send their own message to the brain triggering the release of endorphin, your body's own natural painkiller.

You can control the pulses by changing the frequency on the box. You can also use the boost button to maximise the output of the machine.

The good thing is that you can move around while you use the TENS Machine and you can combine it with gas & Air. Not everyone feels the TENS Machine is strong enough to help them through the second stage of labour. It is however for many women a good form of painrelief during the earlier stages of labour.

You can sometimes hire a TENS Machine from your hospital which will be the cheapest option. But be sure you book one early though as they are normally limited in supply. You can also hire a TENS Machine from numerous companies on the internet. (Mothercare, Tens-hire, mama-tens, etc)

You can hire TENS Machines for between £20-£30 and buy one for roughly £50 -£60.

Other forms of painrelief available at home: