Pregnancy & labour
Maternity TENS: pain relief you can start at home.
A small, battery-powered unit that sends gentle pulses through four pads on your lower back. It is drug-free, you control it yourself, and it leaves you free to stand, walk and change position through labour. In Australia it is one of the few forms of pain relief you can start using before you leave for the hospital or birth centre.
- 37 wks+ When you can start using it
- 4 pads On your lower back, never the bump
- 0 drugs You control it yourself
- Start at home
- Stay mobile
- Drug-free
- You're in control
How it works
Four pads, one button in your hand
The pads sit either side of your spine, over the nerve roots that carry sensation from the uterus and cervix. Between contractions the unit runs a low, continuous pulse that most people describe as a steady tingling or buzzing.
When a contraction starts you press the boost button, which lifts the intensity. You release it as the contraction fades.
The boost button is the part that matters
It gives you something to do with each contraction and something to control. That's why many people keep using it even once other pain relief is available.
When to start
Timing is everything
- By week 36Have it readyBuy or hire it a few weeks ahead so it's charged, tested and packed in the hospital bag.
- From week 37OK to start usingMaternity TENS is intended for use from 37 weeks. Don't use it earlier without advice.
- Early labourPut it on earlyStart as soon as contractions become regular. It's easier to stay ahead of the sensation than to catch up.
Do not place pads on your abdomen at any stage of pregnancy, and do not use maternity TENS before 37 weeks, without advice from your midwife or doctor.
Using it during labour
Four things to know on the day
Have your partner or midwife check the pads are even and firmly stuck before you begin.
- Build up graduallyTurn the intensity up slowly as labour progresses. A comfortable, strong tingle is the target; it should never be sharp or painful.
- It works alongside other optionsTENS doesn't rule out gas and air or anything else later. Talk to your midwife about the order you want to try things in.
- Take it off before waterRemove the unit and pads before a bath, shower or water birth.
- Tell your midwife it's onEspecially if an epidural or continuous monitoring is being considered, so pads can be moved or removed.
Choosing a unit
Which one is right for you?
- Most chosen
The standard unitPerfect MamaTENS
$229.00
View MamaTENSA boost button, a built-in contraction timer so you can tell your midwife how frequent and how long they are, and four pads. One machine that does one job well.
Keeps working afterPerfect Mama Plus
$249.00
View Mama PlusAdds programmes for back discomfort in late pregnancy and after the birth, so the unit keeps earning its place once labour is over.
Borrowed or second-hand?Replacement pads & leads
$59.00
View pads & leadsElectrode gel dries out, and pads that won't stick are the one failure that matters on the day. Worth adding if the machine has been in a cupboard for a while.
After the birth
Support for the months that follow
Once labour is over, attention usually turns to recovering pelvic floor strength and to feeding.
Who should not use TENS in labour
Speak to your doctor or midwife first if you have a pacemaker or another implanted electrical device, epilepsy, or a heart condition. Do not place pads over broken or irritated skin, over the front of the neck, or on the abdomen during pregnancy. Always read the label and follow the directions for use.
Not sure it's right for you?
Ask your midwife or obstetrician about your pregnancy, and ask us about the devices. We're happy to help you pick the right unit.