My TENS Machine Labour & Birth
TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electric Nerve Stimulation device and is a heaven sent device to give your body drug free pain relief during labour right up to birthing , even through to post partum!
My experience with the TENS machine during the labour & Birth of my second daughter was , Though I wish I had put it on a lot earlier through out my labour !
I had organised to hire a TENS machine with my first pregnancy and birthing but my body and baby had different plans to come 5 weeks early , though I wish I did keep the hire of the TENS machine to use Postpartum for after birth pains ! My second pregnancy was when I was able to use the TENS machine which is why I have made this amazing device available for HIRE, I think a TENS machine should be packed in EVERYONES hospital bag , Although they can be costly – that’s where Abit of TLC equipment hire comes in !
March 1st 2022, I laboured at home with back labour and some mild stomach contractions, I stayed at home for a few hours till I lost my mucus plug which then speed things along !
12am My partner and I go up to birthing , I lost my waters on the assessment bed ( baby and I knew I didn’t need an assessment lol ) so we were moved into the birthing suite, I requested birthing room 7 because that was the same room I had my first daughter in and I knew I had to rewrite my experience and connection to that room, I knew it would be part of my healing to take control over the way I remember that room !
Once we were moved, I was at 5cm dilated ! I got out my TENS machine and applied to pads where instructed to, chucked the lynyard around my neck and pressed the power button , The TENS sensation created the best and safe “pins and needles” feeling, tingles covering my surges in my belly & letting me ease into my calm state of mind and really find my rhythm I had envisioned and practiced on getting to , to connect further with my body, baby and my body’s most natural birthing instincts .
I was able to have the TENS around my neck while I was on all fours , breathing , feeling & connecting .
I believe the best thing about the TENS machine is it can be used at home, in hospital and can be paired with any other pain relief you feel is right for you and your experience , I believe I only went with the TENS machine and the Gas abit later into birthing was because I needed to have control over my body and to feel my entire body and also I guess if my baby and I were separated again I felt I needed to be able to get to her again.
I believe around crowning was when my focus shifted from pain management & relaxing into “go time” , Fetel ejection reflex does an amazing job but listening to my body & feeling safe I turned the TENS off and I started pushing and within 2 minutes, my daughter was born !
The TENS absolutely assisted in pain management which then allowed me to relax and shift into that mindset of letting go and surrendering to your body doing what it can do !
The TENS job wasn’t over yet! As discussed in my top 10 postpartum products blog I talk about after birth pains ! My Tens machine was an absolute game changer for those after birth pains as your uterus contracts back back to size, These can be painful especially while breastfeeding so having it ready to go for further use and pain management helped my breastfeeding journey while in the trenches with a postpartum body xx
