Using a TENS Unit in Labor as Pain-Relief

When I first thought about giving birth naturally, I wondered if I was going to be able to endure the pain. I know a lot of mamas (especially first-time mamas) are worried about the pain. Being pregnant the second time around brought a lot of new emotions about natural birth because I remembered what it felt like to have synthetically induced contractions (Pitocin) and I did NOT want to experience that again. Although I am a firm believer in pain-free births, that was NOT a pain-free birth experience - one, because I was unprepared and two, because my body was being forced to do something it wasn’t ready for and I did not have the tools to manage it (I can teach you how now, though)!

When my doula introduced me to the TENS unit, I wasn’t sure how effective it would be for me. I couldn’t understand at first how this little machine could help me manage my waves, but I can say now that it was a huge reason I was able to labor naturally - TRUE GAME CHANGER!

What is a TENS Unit?

A TENS is a non-pharmaceutical way to manage pain. When using it during labor, you can control the intensity of it during contractions, giving you a buzzing or tingling sensation. Researchers say that using TENS can change how a person perceives pain because it can control what neurons reach. your brain during a ‘painful’ experience 😮 . 

It is believed to work through The Gate Control Theory (I talk more about this concept here), which says that only a certain amount of stimuli can get through to the brain. In other words, there is a ‘gate’ that only lets so much sensory information through, and in labor that can be information that says this is painful or it’s not. So, with TENS, you’re flooding the brain with this sensory buzzing feeling that releases endorphins (feel-good hormones) to your brain faster than pain. This allows your brain to respond to the hormones that help your body not perceive or experience the pain or intensity at the same level. Researchers also think that TENS during labor might work by decreasing anxiety, making you feel like you have more control over your labor, and providing a distraction from labor contractions. Isn’t this AMAZING?! Sign me up!

Using the TENS (the thing around my neck in the photo above) allowed me to refocus my mind on something else during my contractions and provided me with more control over my body.

As a doula, I recommend a TENS Unit to all of my clients to have as another pain relief option during labor. You can use it as early as you would like (I recommend starting when the waves get stronger and more intense) and you can use it as long as you want. The only time you can’t use it is when you are in the water, but you can put it on right after.

Here is the TENS unit I recommend and here are the rest of my recommendations for natural pain-relief tools to add to your birth bag.

So, what now? Order the TENS Unit and you’re ready for labor?

I wish it was that easy, LOL. Now, you need to do the work to prepare your receive the relief that the TENS Unit will bring you. So, I have some homework for you.

Watch these two videos below to begin preparing your mind to cope with pain and learn how to overcome your fear of it!

For more information and support through your pregnancy journey, check out my Werk Your Birth Coaching Program. I will walk with you through each step of your journey to help you and your partner feel prepared, confident and excited to have a beautiful and positive natural birth.

Happy Birthing, Mama!!