Hiya Girls,

Has anybody had any experience using them during labour and if they are any good? I spotted in Toys r us yesterday you can hire them and it was also mentioned in our antenatal class they are good for pain relief and it's only £21.00 for 6 weeks hire (I thought that was good) but I don't want to hire one if they are pants.

I have used one before on my back for a slipped disc and it did nothing for me but I guess that labour pain is a lot different to slipped disc pain (indescribable (sp) is all I can say).

Do you think it's worth giving one a go?

Thanks

Naomi xx

i used one when i was in labour with dylan it was good but as the contractions progressed i was getting fustrated with the stupid button and how many times i was to press it i dont know if they are different now tho
i thaught it was good for early labour x

I used one that we hired from our hospital for free.
I used it as soon as the contractions started, I thought it was fab..used the boost with every contraction, but then it did get to the point where I just left it on boost in the end..until the pads fell off when we got to the hosp.

I'd check with your local nhs/midwife about hiring a free one..otherwise that deal is very good..All the ones I've seen have been about £30 for 4wks

lol, had mentioned this in a pm to you earlier coincidence much

I'd say go for it - as with anything else in early labour (water, shower, bath, paracetamol, watching a dvd, walking, sitting on loo, birthing ball, hot water bottle etc) - it's worth a go!

I used an elle tens and was about £25 to hire - it's gone up since though, only 2 years ago

Where have you seen one? xx

i really liked my tens machine but it was really only any use for the first 45 or so minutes of my labour - having said that mine was VERY fast due to being induced and was over in 2.5 hours...so if i duplicate that time into normal first labour time it probably would have been good for a few hours i liked it a lot and would hire one again but i cant for the life of me remember who i hired it from...

word to the wise though - have the box/package for returning it ready weighed etc for when you get home as you won't want to be farting about trying to get to a post office

Toys R us couldn't find any info online, maybe it's just in stores? Anyway I've found a very reasonable company doing the Elle Tens for about £23 inc. p&p AND return delivery - will let you know how it pans out this week! Paid for special delivery - don't want to risk being without, days are numbered.

I used mine for about 12 hours total I think - it starts off strange and annoying, then helps to distract you, then you get to the point you can't feel it and think 'what the chuff is that?!' after a contraction and realise you're still hooked up to full-whack boost setting, like Zee said - but it was more the fact that you feel that you are doing some little thing to 'help' the sensation of your whole body being taken over - there's no way I could have stayed at home as long as I did without it I don't think. Hubby would also know when to start timing contraction from when I pressed the button

^ oh yeah, that was true, hubby knew it was time to watch the clock when i pressed the button once i had stopped being able to talk

^ that's the one

NayNay, if you haven't got one already - this just arrived and all A.O.K - can't fault them so far and have free post envelope ready for return in 6 weeks, can recommend:

http://www.tensmachines.co.uk/Elle-Tens-HIRE-6-Wks--FREE-Delivery-FREE-Return--Baby-Due-Date_p_60.html

i loved mine. used it up till being 6cm i think along with gas and air. i owuld deffo use one again! x

Thanks for the advice ladies...I used the link Grace put up and it's on it's way (oohh it's just arrived).

Anything has got to help....

xxx

i ended up buying mine, boots had an offer on and it was only £10 more than hiring. i didn't have a chance to use it though cos everything happened so fast and i ended up with a water birth so can't use it in water.
maybe for the next one!!