TENS machines, did you find it helpful?

I used a TENs machine for most of my labour and can honestly say it helped me loads! My waters broke at around 5pm, with contractions starting at around 8pm. I coped until around 3am when I started using the TENS machine....and then I kept it on all the way to the birthing centre until 3pm when I got into the pool at 8cms. I was actually doing ok still at that point and wish I had stayed using the TENs for longer, instead of going in the pool, as the water was so hot it made my contractions stop (my son arrived at 10.30pm)!!! I would definately recommend it! I'm not sure if it really helps with the pain or if it helped me more psychologically to be honest....it gave me something to focus on when I felt the contraction starting.
It's great to have a list of different options though, so another thing to try for a little while and if it doesn't help much you have another thing to try....it all passes the time until little one makes an appearance! My list consisted of (in this order) bath, paracetamol, gym ball, soothing music, TENs, birthing pool, gas and air, pethidine. I didn't use the pethidine in the end as I had it in my mind I was in it for the long haul so wanted to have an final option so was trying to hold out.
I hope everything goes well for you and definately give it a try!

In all honesty, no. I didn't find it helped with the pain at all - if anything, it irritated me.

Nope not at all! I hired one from mothercare- arrived in good time and they were brilliant when I returned it late due to being back in hospital, but the machine itself (for me) was pointless as all my pain was in my front- my mum said she's never heard of anyone having all their pain in their front and down their legs rather than in their back, so maybe I'm just a weirdo (lol), but it was a waste of money for me 😞

I have used Hypnobirthing+tens machine in a midwives led unit and was absolutely fine. Although I think Hypnobirthing actually helped me more than the machine...

I had a back to back labour and loved my tens machine, in fact I was a bit reluctant to take it off to get in the pool!

Found mine completely useless
when everything got going strong it irritated me more then helped me
Wouldn't bother with one next time

I hope you don't mind me adding a little piece of unrequested advice: the real and most effective pain relief is the preparation of the mum.
If you know how birth works, what hinder the process and what facilitates it, if you remain in charge of it..that is when the pain is perfectly manageable. I am not saying it gets easy or pain-free (although it CAN actually be pain-free), I am saying it is really manageable. Tens machine can be a good tool to have at hand (at least you won't regret not having it), but your preparation and mind set is the real key. It is like climbing a mountain: it is tiring and a very strong experience but if you're focused and nobody interferes,you kind of enjoy it. And certainly hitting the top is such a sense of achievement that nothing else matter. You can do it only if you know how to, though. You do better if you know better.

Take good care

I used a TENs in both my labours and found them very useful (I used the Obi Tens which comes with a neck strap which kept it in reach and was very easy to use).
Very good for early labour, especially if pain is in your back (I had a back to back labour so a lot of early contractions were in back and bum). The boost button feels a bit like being close to a jet in a hydropool. It is more of a distraction than an actual pain relief but it certainly helped me cope and can't imagine giving birth without one.

Something you didn't mention but a birthing ball can be very helpful, I couldn't use it to sit on but used it to lean forward on (either on the floor or I had it on top of my bed when standing up) during contractions. Being able to lean your weight forward over something seems to really help with the pain. Also a warm wheat bag held over my belly during contractions helped a lot with my first. I don't think much helps when it comes to actually pushing but gas and air helped me to relax, but does make you feel really high/drunk so not for everyone.
Good luck with everything

I used a Mama Tens for my induction and early labour. (Bought on eBay 2nd hand for £36 and sold again on eBay for £26!)  I found it very useful and wish I had put it on earlier that I did. The midwife helped me put it on.***(see below)

It took me from 2 set of gels of my induction to 5cms dilated. The booster button was my best friend.  I did have to move the pads a couple of times to get the best out of it.  I managed to get a pretty decent 2 hours sleep between Ocm to 3cm - and that makes a huge difference.

I agree that preparation is about the mother to be.  I was told to brace my self of the worst and help myself accordingly.  I walked up and down the stairs (must have done it 20 times) at the hospital, figures of eight on the ball and strong pacing up and down my room, corridors etc.  Yes I was in pain but progress was fast.  My pain was at the front, down my legs and top of my knicker line in my back.

I laboured mostly on my feet as the squatting down to drive through the contraction and pushing gave me better control on the pain.  (However, baby twisted and I ended up with forceps) I took off the tens because I couldn't push my booster button, hold onto the wings of the hospital bed, squat and wince at the same time !!

*** M&S sell a maternity night dress.  Its grey with white poka dots.  It has an internal bra in it.  I fed the TENS cables up my back and put the handheld device inside the bra top so I was always a quick grab to get it.  No faffing around with a neck lanyard that was provided with the machine.  Great tip.

If you bought one on eBay and you find it doesn't work for you, you can always sell it on again afterwards.  They may not work for everyone but buy and try it for yourself.