How to Use a Portable TENS Unit for Labor
One option to help you deal with the pain during labor is a portable Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit. A TENS unit stimulates nerve endings, in effect, blocking the pain from traveling to your brain. Rather than contraction pain, most women feel a buzzing or a tingling sensation. A portable TENS unit can be invaluable for women during labor, especially women experiencing painful back labor.
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Instructions
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Talk to your doctor. You will need a prescription from your doctor before you can get a portable TENS unit.
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Do some research or speak to your doctor, midwife, doula or childbirth educator to find a TENS unit that is suitable for labor, not just back pain. Many businesses are now designing TENS units for labor.
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Speak to your insurance company. Some insurance companies will cover the cost of renting or buying a TENS Unit, but others won't.
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Read the included directions and have someone who knows how to work a TENS unit show you how to use your unit before you go into labor. Make sure you and your coach know where to put the electrodes and how to manipulate the unit before you go into labor.
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Position the 4 electrodes on your lower back as indicated in your instruction guide, once you go into labor. Make sure you position these electrodes correctly. The electrodes will go onto the paraspinal muscles. 2 will go the level of the lowest ribs and 2 will go slightly above the gluteal cleft.
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Turn up the frequency of the nerve stimulations to help with the pain of contractions or push a button to give you a "boost" as needed during labor. In between contractions, you or your coach should turn down the frequency or push your "boost" button again.
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Tips & Warnings
If you feel the portable TENS unit isn't helping during labor, try turning it off and seeing how your contractions feel. You may find the TENS unit is actually helping.
A TENS unit works best the earlier a laboring woman uses it.
A TENS unit may interfere with fetal monitoring.
You will not be able to use a TENS unit while in a birthing tub or a shower.
About 2 percent of women have an allergic-type reaction to the gel or electrodes.
