Using A TENS Machine For Labor Pain: Is It For You? - Healthline

Maybe your like

HealthlineSubscribeParenthood

We include products we think are useful for our readers. If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission. Here’s our process

Using a TENS Machine for Labor Pain: Is It For You?

Medically reviewed by Valinda Riggins Nwadike, MD, MPH — Written by Sara Lindberg on August 27, 2020

What it is
How to use
Benefits
Risks
Who it's for
Takeaway

Reducing pain during labor is a top priority for most moms-to-be. But given the limited options for managing pain, some pregnant people seek a more natural approach that doesn’t involve the use of medications.

And that’s why some parents-to-be are curious about the safety and effectiveness of a transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) unit.

What is a TENS machine?

A TENS machine or unit is a small device, often battery operated, that is used to manage both acute and chronic pain.

The unit has wires connected to electrodes that are placed on the skin. The electrodes deliver low voltage electrical currents to targeted body parts to control pain signals in the body.

A practitioner familiar with TENS therapy places the electrodes at or near the nerves where the pain is located. These electrical currents or impulses can create short-term or long-term relief from pain.

Experts say TENS therapy works in a couple of different ways. The first belief is that the electrical impulses affect the nervous system reducing its ability to transmit pain signals to the spinal cord and brain. But they also say that electrical impulses can stimulate the body to produce endorphins, a neurotransmitter that can help relieve pain.

“TENS unit use has been known to alleviate period, joint, back, endometriosis, arthritis, fibromyalgia, sports injuries, and postoperative pain,” says Sherry Ross, MD, OB-GYN and women’s health expert at Providence Saint John’s Health Center.

How to use a TENS machine

It’s essential that you do your homework when choosing a TENS unit. Ross recommends looking for one that has a reliable and good track record with a strong output intensity and with sufficient electrical impulses.

“The higher the numbers, the more helpful it will be to alleviate the pain,” Ross says.

Ideally, Ross says you’ll want to buy a pharmaceutical-grade TENS unit, going with a reputable brand. You can buy a TENS unit online through Amazon, at a CVS or Walgreens pharmacy, or through an online retailer that sells medical supplies and devices.

According to a review of the evidence, when using a TENS machine for labor pains, the electrodes are typically placed on your lower back, on specific acupuncture points, or on your head.

If you’re operating the unit yourself, you’ll regulate the intensity of the impulses during painful contractions. Most TENS units are small and battery operated, so you should be able to hold it in your hand or clip it to your clothing during contractions.

But if you’re not familiar with a TENS machine, it’s a good idea to consult with a physical therapist, midwife, or doctor who regularly uses this therapy. They’ll be able to show you how to place the electrodes on the skin as well as how to operate the machine to get the best results.

You can also hire a doula or midwife familiar with this method to operate the machine during labor. They’ll be able to place the electrodes and control the frequency of the currents coming from the TENS unit.

Benefits

One of the main reasons parents-to-be consider a TENS machine is because it’s a drug-free alternative for pain management during labor.

According to Ross, the TENS unit’s ability to reduce pain sensation may be helpful in alleviating mild pain during labor. Some evidence points to the control it allows women to feel, which consequently reduces pain. It also provides a distraction from the contractions.

TENS therapy may also help reduce the dreaded low back pain that seems to strike so many women during the third trimester.

One 2012 study looked at the effectiveness of TENS in reducing low back pain during this period. Researchers divided 79 subjects into four groups: a control group and three treatment groups — one using acetaminophen, one using exercise, and the final group using TENS for pain management.

During the study period, researchers found that 57 percent of the control group experienced an increase in low back pain, while the TENS application reduced low back pain more effectively than exercise and acetaminophen.

Risks

In general, TENS therapy is considered mostly safe. That said, research involving the use of a TENS until during labor is minimal, at best.

Ross says some of the things you may notice when using the TENS unit in labor include:

muscle twitching
tingling
buzzing sensation
allergic reaction
irritation and skin redness from the adhesive pads on the skin
burn marks as a side effect from the electrode pads
lower blood pressure
muscle spasms

Who should consider it?

TENS units are used to manage pain for a variety of conditions, including painful contractions during labor. But if this is your first time receiving treatment from a TENS machine, and you plan on using it for labor pains, Ross says to proceed with caution.

“Women who have never used the TENS unit for other pain conditions should not use it during labor for the first time,” says Ross. However, she does say the TENS unit may be useful for pain relief for women in labor if they have had success in the past using it for other painful symptoms — just don’t use it in conjunction with water immersion.

For all women, Ross says that since there are inconsistent results for women using the TENS unit, it should not be the only relied upon method for labor pains.

In other words, you may need to use other forms of pain management in combination with a TENS unit. Techniques like massage, relaxation, and breath exercises are all proven ways to help moms-to-be move through labor and childbirth with less pain.

Takeaway

Using a TENS unit during labor may help to manage pain. The effectiveness of the currents depends on the placement of the pads and the frequency of the currents coming from the machine.

There is minimal research regarding the effectiveness of TENS during childbirth. That’s why it’s essential that you consult with your doctor and other healthcare professionals familiar with this protocol. They can help you decide if using a TENS machine during labor is right for you.

Parenthood
Pregnancy
3rd Trimester

How we reviewed this article:

SourcesHistoryHealthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. We only use quality, credible sources to ensure content accuracy and integrity. You can learn more about how we ensure our content is accurate and current by reading our editorial policy.

Approaches to limit intervention during labor and birth. (2017).https://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2019/02/approaches-to-limit-intervention-during-labor-and-birth
The effects of TENS for pain relief in labor. (2009).https://cam.cochrane.org/effect-tens-pain-relief-labor
Keskin EA, et al. (2012). Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation improves low back pain during pregnancy. DOI:https://www.doi.org/10.1159/000337720
Ross S. (2020). Personal interview.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (2020).https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/treatments/15840-transcutaneous-electrical-nerve-stimulation-tens
Vance CJT, et al. (2014). Using TENS for pain control: the state of the evidence. DOI:https://www.doi.org/10.2217/pmt.14.13

Share this article

Medically reviewed by Valinda Riggins Nwadike, MD, MPH — Written by Sara Lindberg on August 27, 2020

Tag » How To Use A Tens Unit To Simulate Labor

Using A TENS Machine For Labor Pain: Is It For You? - Healthline

What is a TENS machine?

How to use a TENS machine

Benefits

Risks

Who should consider it?

Takeaway

How we reviewed this article:

Simulated Experience Helps Men Understand What Labor Feels Like

LABOR PAIN & CONTRACTION SIMULATOR ON MY HUSBAND!

Simulating Labour Pains With Lehmo And GoldFM

If You're Ever A 'Bachelorette' Give This Machine A Whirl To Test ...

5 Best Labor Pain Simulators Of 2022 - Conquering Motherhood

Using A TENS Machine In Labour - BabyCentre UK

TENS Unit: The 'Natural Labor' Tool No One Is Talking About - Parents

Labor Simulator Machine For Men

Contraction Simulation - Mpreg Central

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) For Pain Relief In ...

Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation (TENS) For Pain ... - NCBI

TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation)

Labour Pain Relief: TENS Machine | Labour & Birth Articles & Support

Contact