News — Obstetric TENS

My midwife and antenatal class had recommended a TENS for non-medical pain relief (avoiding medical interventions was my strong preference, given how light headed morphine can make me and how keen I was to labour in the birthing pool, which would not be possible with an epidural).  I looked into a couple of hire services online and am so glad that I chose Natal Care - the machine arrived promptly, was very easy to set up and test, and it was a great relief that it came with a return envelope so I knew sending it back would be a...

We asked one of our lovely new mums, Kimberley some questions about her labour. Here's some of her advice for a positive, prepared labour. What techniques, tools and people helped you during labour? A:  I had a bag of tricks at the ready after reading JuJu Sundin's book called 'Birth Skills'. I didn't end up needing many of them since my labour was so quick, but what I found helpful was my husband distracting me by counting, a heat pack on my shoulders, walking/stomping around the house, squeezing a stress ball, and listening to this calming music over and over again....

Low-Intensity TENS & the Gate Control Theory When using TENS at a low-intensity level, it is working through the Gate Control Theory. The Gate Control Theory suggests that there’s only a certain amount of stimuli that can get through to the brain. In other words, there is a ‘gate’ that only lets so much sensory information through. So, with TENS, you’re ‘flooding the brain’ with this sensory buzzing feeling so that the brain can’t really perceive the sensation from labour contractions as much. High-Intensity TENS & the Diffuse Noxious Inhibitory Control Theory When using your TENS on the high-intensity setting...

A combination of factors contribute to the potential benefits of using a TENS machine during labour. Women find that the use of a TENS unit helps them to feel in control of labour, be less anxious and offers a distraction from contractions.  Many women prefer or choose to use TENS during labour because it is a drug-free alternative and allows them to be present during their child’s birth.  Medical professionals and experts have advocated several advantages of using TENS, including: It is safe for you and your baby You don’t need an anaesthesiologist, doctor or midwife to use it You...