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

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

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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.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

Last medically reviewed on August 27, 2020

• Parenthood
• Pregnancy
• 3rd Trimester

How we reviewed this article:

Healthline has strict sourcing guidelines and relies on peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical associations. We avoid using tertiary references. 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).
  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).
  cam.cochrane.org/effect-tens-pain-relief-labor
• Keskin EA, et al. (2012). Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation improves low back pain during pregnancy. DOI:
  10.1159/000337720
• Ross S. (2020). Personal interview.
  
• Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (2020).
  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:
  10.2217/pmt.14.13

Our experts continually monitor the health and wellness space, and we update our articles when new information becomes available.

Current Version

Aug 27, 2020

Written By

Sara Lindberg

Edited By

Saralyn Ward

Medically Reviewed By

Valinda Riggins Nwadike, MD, MPH

Copy Edited By

Kara Williams

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

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Who will give birth to "pregnant antelope" - Automotive magazine "Turbo"

This is a five-seater sedan. They look back at him. This car has a European design with a claim to aristocracy. The sophistication of colors emphasizes the sophistication of nature - "lapis lazuli", "moray eel", "blue midnight" ... In addition, it is clean: double door seals from above and below reliably seal openings and protect thresholds from contamination. The solidity of this car is visible to the naked eye. Its owner himself is also gaining weight in the eyes of others. The person behind the wheel of such a car picks up the infection of the usefulness of the personality (!) And looks down from a comfortable cabin at colleagues on the highway. Even a fragile, petite woman can easily manage an impressive sedan, firmly feel the pedals under her shoes, and easily find a comfortable position for landing.

This is definitely a family car. A long trip for the crew in full force will be comfortable. Let's say the head of the family is driving. Nearby is the “half”, she is the navigator. Behind - two children. Are they dying of boredom? By no means! They have just deftly opened the hatch in the back of the rear seat, got into the trunk, are already eating sandwiches. One took out a movie camera, the other threw back the wide armrest and draws. Isn't this your family?

From the brochure

Read this unique verbal portrait to your friends and ask them to guess which car it is? They won't guess anything! Anything comes to mind - from the latest BMW model to Korean cars, but not what the authors of the description had in mind. If we say that we are talking about the "VAZ" "top ten", then many will think that our magazine simply decided to make fun of this car and, together with it, all the happy owners of the VAZ 2110. But nothing like that! This verbal portrait is completely taken from the brochure of the AVTOVAZ company’s new product, however, so that no one would guess, we excluded the phrase from the text: “If you are a leader by nature and a patriot by conviction, then the VAZ 2110 is your car.”

It is not known what kind of "infection of the usefulness of the personality" that the drivers of this car should catch, but apparently there are really a lot of patriots in our country. Otherwise, how else can you explain that this latest masterpiece of the domestic auto industry, clearly suffering from an inferiority complex, is sold in considerable quantities, and, accordingly, is bought. But seriously, patriotism still has nothing to do with it. The next surge of the crisis, in which our country has been for so many years, gave another breath of oxygen to the Russian industry, dollar prices for the same "dozens" fell almost by half, and buyers do not have much choice. The novelty factor plays its part, although the 2110 is more of an oldie than a novelty. The car was made for so long that two leading designers changed during this time. The third designer, of course, cannot afford to redo what his predecessors did, which is why it turned out to be what the “VAZ” people themselves dubbed it - “pregnant antelope”. But nothing - endure falling in love! In addition, Togliatti cars have been loved by our people from time immemorial, and, apparently, not in vain. And how did it all start?

When the history of the Volga Automobile Plant will be written, January 14, 1967 will be one of the main lines in it. On this frosty day, outside the village of Russkaya Borkovka, near the Zhiguli, the crew of the E-1251 excavator removed the first bucket of soil from the pit under the building of auxiliary workshops.

A little over two years have passed. Where only the wind drove a snow blizzard across the expanses of the steppe, the roar of motors does not stop day or night. The buildings of the Volga auto giant are growing.

Not only the builders and assemblers of VAZ are in a hurry. Togliatti will be connected by many threads with specialized subcontractors. After all, not a single car will leave the main conveyor if subcontractors do not provide VAZ with body fittings, carburetors, plastic and cermet parts and many other components.

"Behind the wheel", No. 3, 1969.

Essentially, in the 1960s, the Soviet Union, along with the acquisition of a passenger car plant, acquired from FIAT a modern automobile industry by that standards, which until then had been based on forty-year-old technologies borrowed from FORD. Everything, from the nomenclature of bolts and nuts, to the methods of organizing production and the wage system, was transferred from sunny Italy, first to the Volga region, and then distributed to many automotive industry enterprises throughout the country. By the way, VAZ normal tables (aka FIAT) are used almost everywhere. A huge number of components supplied to the main conveyor forced dozens of related enterprises to modernize or rebuild. For the first time, a branded car service was created. What can I say, all this is due to the ubiquitous distribution 93rd gasoline, familiarity with antifreeze, lithol, etc., etc.

The plant in Togliatti is strikingly different from similar enterprises, from the same KAMAZ built later. First of all, the “not our” organization of labor, cleanliness and order are striking. And, although there is such a joke at VAZ: “The Italians launched the plant in three years, ours launched it in three days,” the past years have not completely broken the “Italian sourdough”. The company still remains the technological leader in the Russian automotive industry, but the lack of real competition, a not entirely clear development strategy, with the calming factor of more or less stable sales, can play a cruel joke this time.

The life of the city of Togliatti, especially the new "factory" part, the life of its people is closely connected with the enterprise, as always happens in the case of a city near a factory. The huge demand for cars made it possible to solve many social problems, and in the “hungry” times at the end of the eighties, when even in Moscow there was “at least a rolling ball” on store shelves, plant workers had the opportunity to be serviced in the factory “Birches”, bursting with imported goods. At the plant itself, at least on the main conveyor, “Italian cuisine” deserved special attention - glass cubes of canteens along the conveyor with a well-thought-out organization of a system for shift meals for workers, and the choice of dishes and the quality of cooking could suit the most demanding gourmets.

The first vehicles rolled off the production line in September 1970. What kind of cars they were - there is no need to tell separately. In the whole country, probably, you will not find a person who would not drive in the now, one might say, legendary “penny”. At the beginning, many had doubts that the Italian car, albeit adapted to our conditions, would show itself well in real operation. But all doubts were dispelled over time, the car fell in love, took root. The name “Zhiguli” also stuck, although there was, perhaps, the most controversy regarding it. It is known that a competition was announced for the best name of the "VAZ" small car. To illustrate the twists and turns associated with the choice of name, we will cite a letter from a reader published in the journal Za Rulem on 1969 year:

Dear editors!

... One can imagine what will happen if a Zhiguli is released: “I'm going to buy a Zhiguli! Or: “With an inexpressible feeling of joy, I got behind the wheel of my Zhiguli (or maybe Zhigulikha?). Language incidents and inconveniences will begin.

Our rich language has many beautiful words and suitable names. Why can a TV be called "Diamond", and only "Zhiguli" is suitable for an elegant passenger car? After all, you can call it "Union", "Spectrum", "Maxim", "Start", "Amethyst". Having a good name for a car is very important, if you like, that's half the battle!

But our specificity is such that official names rarely take root among the people, and in everyday life "VAZ" cars, as a rule, have other names. However, there is an exception - "NIVA". An exceptional car, not only because of the name. Much has been said about the significance of the existence of this model. It is worth adding that FIAT for a long time wooed VAZ its COMPAGNIOLA all-wheel drive car - not very successful, with a utilitarian rectangular body, and, they say, the Italians were very offended when they learned about the development of a unique SUV with a comfortable interior and a decent body on the nodes of a passenger car. "NIVA" is still popular in the West due to its complex of advantages.

But apart from a good name, the other half of the job is to make a good car. Needless to say, in terms of quality, Volga cars were always head and shoulders above other domestic cars. But this figure is relative. In addition, the quality of workmanship over the years is not entirely stable and has a steady downward trend. There are many reasons for this: wear and tear of equipment, outdated technologies. But the main reason, nevertheless, is the attitude towards production. And it depends, rather, not on a specific worker hammering bolts with a hammer on the main conveyor, but on the whole SYSTEM.

The rotten system of enterprise management exists, again, thanks to the colossal demand for small cars, which, even in the most difficult years, did not fall below the mark of 500 thousand cars a year. In this situation, there is simply no point in making any gestures in the direction of improving the quality of workmanship and creating new models for management. It is much less troublesome to collect money from simple-hearted townsfolk for the ABBA project, organize the production of EURO-SAMAR in Finland or trade in foreign cars within the framework of the LOGOVAZ company, in other words, “make money easy”. Oddly enough, so far it has not been possible to “drive” AvtoVAZ on the cheap to foreigners, that is, to find a general investor. It is strange because Mr. Bekh succeeded with KAMAZ, and the captain of KAMAZ, nevertheless, is a pupil of the “VAZ school of management”, in the past he was the head of one of the shops in Togliatti, a friend of the current head of VAZ Kadannikov.

The tangle of interests of the state, private investors - the "new" bigwigs of domestic business - around AVTOVAZ is so tangled that all interested persons, in fact, have no time to deal with the plant as such. Find the ends of the threads leading to power over the giant of the automotive industry.

In the meantime, they are all looking for these ends, people are working, creating new equipment. And, one must think, rather for the good, joint production projects with GM and other "investors" broke off, because such failures of "managers" turn into good opportunities for the preservation and development of the domestic "VAZ" design school. “What do we care about saving the design school? There would be good cars, but who created them - what's the difference? ”, You ask. We admit that we are not ready to discuss this topic now.

Nevertheless, it was in spite of and not because of the SYSTEM that NIVA was developed. Based on the "Fiat" foundation, the "VAZ school" for years comprehended the culture of the automotive industry, achieved professionalism and its own style. As a result - perhaps the most successful domestic family of cars: front-wheel drive "SAMAR". Although the powertrain, front-wheel drive and suspension of these cars were fine-tuned by PORSCHE (normal practice in the modern world), but in general, this is the rare case when the roots of a car are in our country.

Next - "ten", "birthmark" of the transition period and the birth of a new style. Of course, it would be better if it wasn't. In it, the influence of the rotten system was reflected as never before. Indeed, which of the major automakers can afford the luxury of having two similarly similar families of cars in production at the same time? Is that TOYOTA or GM, and also AVTOVAZ! Bosses say: the lack of flexible production is to blame, which does not allow you to quickly switch from one model to another. So new buildings of factories are growing for the production of new models - there are many builders among the shareholders. And the “OFF” button from the conveyor, where rear-wheel drive models are made, was lost about fifteen years ago. Nothing that the "Lada" at a cost of one and a half times more expensive than the front-wheel drive "SAMAR".

And the designers, meanwhile, without asking anyone, for some reason lengthened the old NIVA, made the HOPE minivan, various pickups there, in the meantime they bring to mind the new VAZ-2123 SUV. While the management of AvtoVAZ will negotiate with GM on the joint production of either OPEL CORSA or OPEL ASTRA, the "pregnant antelope" will have a "calf" - VAZ-1119. It's on the way, spy shots of this machine, codenamed GAMMA, began to appear in the press about a year ago. The prospects for mass production, for obvious reasons, are very vague, and a rather pleasant appearance suggests that the SYSTEM was not seriously involved in it. It is quite possible that enthusiasts will decide to establish a small-scale production of this model. But if in the case of the HOPE minivan such an approach is possible - the absence of domestic analogues justifies the high cost of manual assembly, then the GAMMA, in essence, is an inexpensive mass-produced car. Although, one must think that there will be those who wish for a small-capacity exclusive.
AVTOVAZ continues to live and develop. SISTEMA has finally begun to restore the destroyed dealer network within the country, last year the purchase of imported components was reduced by $100 million in favor of domestic ones, which should support the price of new cars at an acceptable level. In February of this year, cars were produced by 19% above the plan, and in 1999 it is planned to produce 657,000 small cars, which is a good indicator. Constructors and designers continue to work - as long as they are not interfered with. And then, perhaps, GAMMA will not be the last brainchild of the "pregnant antelope".

Can I drive a car while pregnant

Belenkova Tatyana Sergeevna

Neonatologist

Clinical Hospital Lapino-1 "Mother and Child"

be collected and attentive

The hormonal background during pregnancy changes, so many expectant mothers' mood "jumps", and emotions often go off scale. And excitability, irritability, and just a bad mood on the road only harm. So if such symptoms appear, you need to control yourself, get together, think over maneuvers and not take risks. Hormones also affect attention, especially it dissipates in the first trimester of pregnancy. Therefore, at this time (and the rest, too), you need to become an even more careful and attentive driver.

respond correctly

There are already enough stresses in our life, and driving often adds them. Endless traffic jams, violators of traffic rules, lovers of cuts, just bad drivers or even boors on the road - you can’t get away from this. And all this must be learned to respond correctly. Therefore, evaluate your reaction to such stresses, consider whether you can emotionally cope with any situation or not. Neither the woman nor her child needs to worry, be frightened, or get upset in any other way during pregnancy. And if suddenly the expectant mother realizes that while she cannot properly respond to stress, then it is better not to drive without special need.

safety first

As soon as a woman's tummy becomes sufficiently visible, she may feel that the seat belt is somehow squeezing the stomach, and therefore harming the child. In fact, the belt cannot squeeze anything from the baby, because it is protected by amniotic fluid, the muscles of the uterus, and the muscles of the abdomen of a woman. So the belt can be worn safely. And to be comfortable, its upper part should be placed under the chest, and the lower part under the stomach. As a result, comfort is achieved and safety rules are observed.

You can use a special seat belt for pregnant women. It has four attachment points and is much more elastic than the standard one.

driver's seat

Since the belly grows during pregnancy, and the load on the spine increases, it is worth constantly adjusting the driver's seat to your needs. The chair must be periodically pushed back, so that there is free space between the stomach and the steering wheel, and its back should be tilted to a comfortable position. Of course, this should not worsen the visibility of the road. You can also adjust the position of the steering wheel.

If you experience back pain while driving, you can put an orthopedic or ordinary pillow, a roller under your back, someone even puts a massage cape on the chair, which has an automatic roller or air-compression massager.

what will help

What else needs to be done to make driving comfortable and safe:

• Rest on the way. If you have a long trip, then every hour you need to take a break of 10-15 minutes. It is worth getting out of the car, walking a little, stretching to relax and relieve tension. In general, it is better not to spend a lot of time behind the wheel (on average, no more than 3 hours a day).
• Travel plan. Study the traffic situation in advance, look at the traffic jam map, outline the route and its other options. Leave with plenty of time.
• Useful little things. Take antispasmodics with you (ask your doctor what he will recommend just in case), water to drink, something light to eat (to have a snack in a traffic jam or with an attack of toxicosis), in general, any thing (pillow, massager) that makes it easier some moments of pregnancy.

when to wait

Even if driving a car is an integral part of life for a woman, even if she drives a car for a long time and confidently, there are situations when it is better not to drive :

• well-being: weakness, drowsiness, low blood pressure, dizziness, fainting, anemia, which makes it difficult to concentrate on the road.
• If you are worried about severe toxicosis: frequent bouts of nausea can also prevent you from concentrating on driving. But toxicosis can also manifest itself in a different way: sometimes the smell of gasoline and exhaust gases cause severe headaches, dizziness, and the same fainting.

Usually, all these inconveniences of pregnancy do not last forever: weakness and drowsiness bother in the first trimester, toxicosis - too, so from the second trimester it becomes both comfortable and safe to drive a car again. Well, if there is dizziness and fainting, then driving is definitely worth waiting until the end of pregnancy.

Enjoy your driving and good luck on your journey!

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Attention! Prices for services in different clinics may vary. To clarify the current cost, select the clinic

The administration of the clinic takes all measures to update the prices for programs in a timely manner, however, in order to avoid possible misunderstandings, we recommend that you check the cost of services by phone / with the managers of the clinic

Clinical Hospital MD GROUPClinical Hospital Lapino-1 "Mother and Child"Clinic KG "Lapino" in Odintsovo (branch)Clinic "Mother and Child" Khodynskoye PoleClinic "Mother and Child" KuntsevoClinic "Mother and Child" Savelovskaya Clinic "Mother and Child" » Yugo-ZapadMother and Child Clinic NovogireyevoMother and Child Clinic Lefortovo

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