Birth Stories
Keeley’s Calm, Powerful Water Birth Story
Keeley combined a TENS machine and hypnobirthing, ending in the waterbirth she wanted.
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Midwife Birth Story: Fiona’s Natural Labour with TENS & Pool
Fiona steps us through her labour and explains when she bought in tools and techniques to help her progress. Being prepared for labour is key to feeling in control and having a range of pain relief strategies can make all the difference when your goal is a natural birth. Fiona used a swiss ball, TENS machine, hot water bottle, birthing pool, breathing techniques, movement (swaying and support), vocalisation, distraction and support from her birthing partner and husband. Congratulations on your natural birth Fiona and thank you for sharing your story. 1.45am - woke with first contraction - was contracting every 15 mins. Spent this time bouncing on my swiss ball, using my hot water bottle & facetiming my mum & sister in the UK. 6am - contracting every 3 mins by now and much more painful. Woke husband, applied TENS. Still using ball to sit on or kneel over, still talking to my mum & sister. 8.20 - called midwife. Now standing & swaying using husband for support + TENS. Still talking to my mum & sister. 9.20 - midwife here. I was 3cm dilated. She went back home with plan for me to call her when I felt like things were ramping up. 10am - I got in the pool & it felt soooooo good (Stopped talking to mum and sister around midday with plan to call them back later so they could see the birth). 13.10 - got out of pool to use the loo, had a show & had a bit of rectal pressure so called midwife & got back in the pool. 13.50 - midwife arrived. I was starting to struggle a bit more but managing to keep focusing on breathing and swaying in the pool with husband & midwife's support. 14.05 - starting to get distressed with contractions. Examined while in pool: 9cm dilated, head @ spines so still had a decent way to come down yet. 14.15 - contractions became unbearably excruciating. No particular urge to push but soooooo painful in my lower abdomen, felt like I was going to have an abruption or something. Became extremely loud and vocal, thrashing around in the pool like a possessed whale! Told husband to get in the pool with me as I felt I needed more physical support so he jumped in. 14.20 - midwife called for 2nd midwife to attend. While she was on the phone I started pushing (+ roaring very loudly) then I could feel the head & bag of waters on my perineum. 14.25 - baby born! (Membranes ruptured as head came out). 14.40 - 2nd midwife arrived. Husband got out of the pool & called my mum & sister 😅 15.00 - I got out of the pool with baby still attached to me. Helped over to sofa to deliver placenta. 15.15 - 3rd stage complete, cord then cut by daddy. Intact perineum, bilateral labial tears that don't need suturing. 15.40 - baby breastfeeding. I found the TENS so helpful and it contributed to a phenomenal birth experience that far surpassed my expectations of how amazing it would be! Thanks so much Fiona
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Jess’s Water Birth with TENS & Hypnobirthing
Like many mums-to-be, Jess was anxious about her upcoming labour. Here she shares the tools and techniques she used to keep her calm and drug-free during the birth of her baby girl... When I confirmed I was pregnant one of the first questions I googled was how much is labour going to hurt? I knew it was a bad idea, but I did it anyway. Antenatal classes help prepare you to some degree, but there are plenty of other things you can do to get ready for the big day. I had read that labour can take hours so I started getting my ‘toolkit’ of coping strategies together. I had read that natal hypnotherapy techniques can lead to less medical intervention and a better birth experience. Maggie Howell’s book ‘Effective Birth Preparation – a practical guide to a better birth’ (with accompanying CD) was filled with relaxation techniques and tips on how to remain calm. The overriding message was that a woman’s body is designed to give birth, and promoting a positive mental attitude helps pregnant women overcome that fear of the unknown. If all that sounds a bit hippy, don’t worry. The breathing techniques are designed to promote a sense of calm, and you are not actually being hypnotized - there is no Paul McKenna-style work here. I started to listen to the CD in my final month of pregnancy and found the relaxation part great. I found I kept falling asleep before the end of the CD so it certainly helped de-stress, and the messages to slow your breathing seemed to be getting through. I wasn’t expecting to get through the whole birth on fresh air, so I hired a TENS machine to help with the contractions. The TENS machine transmits small (harmless) electrical pulses through your skin. The pulses are designed to stimulate the release of endorphins so your body can cope with the pain using its own hormones. These pulses also stimulate the nerves in your spine so the pain signals are blocked before they reach your brain. The TENS was very simple to use. It came with a boost button, so when a contraction came on I could press the boost and then press it again when the contraction subsided. Because the TENS was so effective I felt happy to stay at home for much of my labour and only went into hospital at 6am after using the TENS overnight. I was amazed that I had used the TENS for seven hours because it honestly felt much shorter. The midwives were surprised at how calm I was and there was only just time to run the birthing pool. Obviously because it relies on electrical pulses the TENS can’t be used in water and at first I was worried about switching it off in case things started to hurt, but the soothing effects of the pool really helped and my relaxation techniques kicked in. My baby was born after just an hour and a half in the water. I felt relaxed even in the final stages and it really helped me to remember the breathing techniques from the hypnotherapy. I feel very lucky to have had such an amazing birth experience. I would say natal hypnotherapy is definitely worth a go and using a TENS machine meant I stayed at home for much of my labour in a familiar environment. My new bubba seems to be a calm and contented baby so far and I like to ‘smugly’ think it had something to do with her positive, peaceful entrance to the world!
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Ellen’s Powerful Natural Birth Story
Here’s Ellen’s experience of her fast-moving labour and how TENS helped her achieve the drug-free birth she hoped for. I'd love to share my positive birth story with you to help convince others of the amazing benefits of using the TENs machine during labour. My TENs machine arrived on the Monday and I had baby on the Friday so not a lot of time to play with haha! Thank goodness I ordered it when I did. On the Thursday night I had a small show followed by my waters breaking about an hour later. I only felt a small twinge down the side of my belly at this stage. By about 11pm I had mild period like cramps so I hopped into bed. I couldn't sleep though as I was too excited and nervous! By about 2am I hopped out of bed and the pain had increased slightly to a mild cramp. I had read to start using the TENs in the early stages of labour to reap more benefits so sitting in front the mirror I placed the 4 pads on without too much trouble actually! I started off quite low and immediately loved the feeling of the continuous pulses to ease the pain. I stayed out in the lounge watching TV and coping fine on my own. By about 5am the pain had changed to more of a pressure low down on my belly and they were now more definitive contractions so I began to use the boost mode during them. Using the boost mode through a contraction was highly effective, taking my focus away from the area of pain and easing my whole body through those moments of intensity. I found it so helpful to focus on switching between the two modes and it helped take my mind away from what I was feeling. By 7am contractions had become really intense and I was getting pretty vocal. I had ramped up the level to about a 1/3 and found it very effective. At this point I phoned my midwife as I was thinking I should be heading in soon. As this was my first baby I didn't know what to expect from my labour and what established labour would feel like let alone gauge how far along I could be. I decided to jump in the shower and was so scared to take off the TENs as I didn't know what a contraction would feel like without it. I didn't last long in the shower and was relieved to get the TENs back on and in business. At 9:30am we left home to head to River Ridge East Birth Centre. It was the worst ride of my life, made worse by road works and speed bumps but again it was super helpful to hold the unit and switch between the modes as a way to keep myself focused. We arrived at River Ridge at 10am and as I wanted a water birth the TENs was removed at 10:15am when I hopped into the pool. I laboured in the pool for 1.5hrs and birthed my daughter at 11:40am without the need for any other pain relief. The TENs machine was instrumental in my labour and me achieving my dream of having a drug free delivery. The TENs was everything I had hoped for and more. I will 100% recommend using the TENs machine for labour especially for those wanting to take the natural path. I will absolutely be using the TENs machine for my future births and will feel so confident knowing that I'll have effective and hassle free pain relief. I found hiring the TENs pain free. Jane runs a highly organised and efficient business. The TENs machine was accompanied with easy to follow instructions and was itself a high quality, reliable product. 10/10 - Thank you so much! Happy new mum, Ellen
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Lara’s Water Birth Story with TENS Support
Welcoming baby Lara into the world! Such a beautiful birth story. My little bub was due on the 15th of May, and like many first pregnancy did not come on that day. Instead on the 18th of May early in the morning I started to go into spontaneous labour. From about midday on the 18th my contractions were regular and I knew that this was it, they weren’t fading and instead getting gradually more painful. That’s when I popped on the tens machine and I used it for the remainder of the day. It really helped with getting me through all the cramping and back aches I was experiencing. That evening my midwife came to assess my progress and do a stretch and sweep, I was 2cm dilated at that stage. From the stretch and sweep things really picked up! I increased the intensity of the tens machine with almost every hour to help with the pain, the boost really did it for me, it helped me to breathe through the pain. After midnight my midwife did another assessment and I was around 6cm dilated, it was time to go to hospital. I continued to use the tens up until I got to hospital and got into the shower. After showering I laboured in the birth pool for a few hours before returning to my birth room where I gave birth. The only pain relief I had was the tens machine, water submersion and paracetamol (to bring my temp down from being in the pool). My little girl Lara was born via vaginal birth on the morning of the 19th of May at 8.29am. I really believe that the tens machine helped me to breathe through each contraction and build endorphins so that I could let me body do it’s thing. Thank you for providing such a great service and easy instructions!
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Prepared, Positive, Empowered: Rebecca’s Birth Story
We thank Rebecca for sharing her experience with TENS. So beautiful to hear her using natural tools and techniques to work with her body - distraction is a powerful tool! My midwife and antenatal class had recommended a TENS for non-medical pain relief (avoiding medical interventions was my strong preference, given how light headed morphine can make me and how keen I was to labour in the birthing pool, which would not be possible with an epidural). When the day came I'd had 30-odd hours of non-painful contractions before my waters broke at 9.30pm. My husband and I continued watching a movie, but by the time it finished an hour later it was clear that I was definitely in labour. We moved to the bedroom and set up the TENS on my back. Having a task to complete as each contraction came, rose, and subsided was terrific for my concentration - it really helped me focus on what my body was doing and gave my conscious mind a task to complete that it knew would help the process. Within three hours my contractions were fast and strong, and I was relieved to find that the TENS pads were sticky enough to withstand putting on my shoes and coat and the drive to the hospital. By the time we arrived I was 6cm dilated. I kept the TENS on while the birthing pool was filling and then reluctantly relinquished the device. By that point my body knew how to handle the contractions and I could feel the progress baby was making towards being born. I was calm and knew the pain was worthwhile. I'm certain that beginning my labour with the control that the TENS machine gave me kept me in that positive headspace. Happily that lasted until after baby was born at 5:30am. - Rebecca T and baby Sam
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"This was my dream birth"
Teri's dream birth! This was my second pregnancy and after a lengthy and complicated birth with my first I was fairly apprehensive as my due date approached. My midwife recommended trying a TENS machine this time around and passed on Natal care as the service to get it through - my gosh I am glad she did! My waters broke at midnight and I had regular but very mild tightenings through to the morning. At around 7am we were heading out to drop off the toddler to her Nans and I put the TENS machine on. It was great advice to start using it early in labour, this really worked for me! I had the machine on the lowest setting and when a contraction started, I pressed the boost button which was just fantastic! Being able to actively do something each time a contraction started was really empowering for me - that boost button was a life saver! It also soothed the pain of the contraction brilliantly. After dropping off the toddler, I laboured in a dark room with candles as light and played my favourite podcasts in the background. I spent the majority of the morning kneeling over a yoga ball and with each contraction I pressed my boost button on the TENS and breathed through to a count of 4 in and 7 out. This was all I needed through to midday when my midwife came and checked in, I was 4cm dilated and progressing quickly. When my midwife checked me more of my waters popped and she told me to stay home a little longer and then head to the birthing unit when it felt right. An hour and many boosts later it was definitely time, we got in the car and I felt the baby drop into position and felt the urge to push. At this point I turned the boost on permanently for the 20 min drive and that along with quick deep breaths got me through the journey! We arrived at the birthing unit and through the contractions got inside, quickly got the TENS off and hopped in the birthing pool, I pushed with my contractions and 10 minutes later our little boy came into the world at 2:15pm. This was my dream birth, a shortish labour where I felt in control and finishing with a waterbirth. I feel very blessed to have had this experience! I am so grateful to have had the TENS on hand and will be recommending it to everyone!! - Teri, Sam & bubs
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“I Don’t Want to Interrupt Your Zen” — Danielle’s Empowering Birth Story
I would love to share my birth labour story with you and tell you able the pain relief methods that helped me through.My labour progressed slowly with a long latent phase on Thursday until it ramped up on Friday afternoon. I began using the TENS machine & it helped me immensely. I really loved how the TENS helped me mentally; it gave me something else to focus on & helped draw the pain away from the contractions. In addition it assisted my breathing (hypno-breathing) and really helped me get into the zone.At 2am on Saturday (48hrs later) my contractions were at the stage where I was on the way to the hospital to meet my midwife. I arrived & my midwife was so amazed how calm I was. She said, “I don’t want to interrupt your Zen”. I kept telling her how much of a life saver the TENS was. I got to the hospital & was 7cm dilated. I then used a combo of the TENS & Entonox for 2 hours. I then moved to the shower with the Entonox. Another 2hrs later I got into the birthing pool and had a lovely water birth!!! It was such an empowering experience & I truly believe the TENS machine had a huge impact & place in creating my successful birth. My birth experience is one I wished for but never thought I would get to experience. Thank you for this service you provide to me & other woman. I am forever grateful & if we are blessed to have another child, I will most certainly be using the TENS machine as part of my labour & I highly recommend it to anyone.Thanks for allowing me to share my story with you. -Danielle E
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We had a Q & A with new mum, Chloe
We had a Q and A with new mum Chloe Talk to us about how your labour started and progressed and how you managed through the contractions. I started feeling some niggles at around 2am and asked my husband to put the TENS pads on my back just in case they got worse. He then began recording my contractions down. At around 5am the contractions were a minute long and 3 minutes apart and my midwife arrived to tell me I was 4cm dilated and needed to head towards the birthing centre before traffic started. I would not have been able to get through the car ride without the TENS machine as it was around a 40 minute journey and by this time my contractions were pretty intense. By the time I got to the centre I was 7cm dilated and everything was happening quick and fast and I didn't have any time to ask for gas but was managing pretty well with the TENS in one hand and my husband's hand in the other. I was then able to manage my pain until the final moments before going into the water to deliver our baby girl. I cannot rave any more about the TENS machine and truly believe it made my labour easier. Because of it I was able to have a completely natural birth free from any intervention and injuries. What a magical introduction to pregnancy and labour! What else helped you during labour? I had my husband with me which was a huge support and he could see from the way I was using the TENS machine when I was having a contraction as I would press the button. He then knew when to hold my hand and offer encouragement as we has discussed before the birth. Would you have done anything differently for your labour? Nothing at all except drink more water when I started contractions so I didn't need an IV put in. What did you particularly like about the TENS? I liked how I could have the gentle bursts in the background when I was out of a contraction and had the choice to push the button to put the surge on and adjust the strength easily. It gave me something that I had control over when my body was doing everything else. How easy was TENS to put on? Any advice for other mums? My husband and I practiced using the TENS before labour so when the day came around he knew exactly where to place the pads and I knew how it functioned. I'd highly recommend using it beforehand and it's pretty good at easing back pain too! Any advice for moving through the intensity modes? Start low and go up! If you start too high it's way too intense. Starting low means you can slowly build up your threshold and use it to your advantage as the contractions become more intense. Any other general advice for new mums heading into labour? Go in with no expectations about what you want. Baby will have their own plan in mind and as long as they arrive healthy and happy that is all that matters! Did anything surprise you about your labour? I didn't expect for it to come on so quickly. I had the impression I would stay home for a long while before having to go out but am grateful it was a speedy process What/who were you grateful for? My midwife was extraordinary and completely calming during the whole process, my husband was solid as a rock and held me through the whole process and the tens and calm setting at the birthing centre made my labour beautiful.
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Dustin’s Fast Arrival: A TENS & Water Birth Story
We’re sharing this beautiful story from Jahnea about the speedy arrival of her son Dustin, and how she used a TENS machine throughout her labour before moving into a water birth. My water broke at 5:30pm. I had only just sat down after a tiring day wedding dress shopping with my friend. I was two days past my due date and finally had done all the things I needed to. I felt a funny twinge and thought that I needed to pee. So I took myself to the toilet and water rushed out as soon as I reached the bathroom. I did for a moment think I had wet myself. Every time I moved my legs some more water came out and I clicked that it was indeed my ‘waters’! I called my husband and mum and they were soon home. We quickly put the tens machine on just after 6pm. I had fairly strong contractions and enjoyed the relief from the tens machine. By this time my contractions were coming pretty fast and strong so we decided to call the midwife and meet her at the Birth Care Centre. On the way I was able to turn the level up on my tens machine. When we got there another contraction hit when I was walking into the lift and I still remember the ‘kick’ from the tens machine, and the tingling feeling! I had it turned up pretty high but was loving it! Once in the birthing room and after being checked by a midwife I decided to move into the birthing pool. My baby boy Dustin arrived at 7:30pm. He was a healthy weight at 4.24kg. I had to push his head and his shoulders out! I was very relieved to finally have him out and to meet him. I had a very small tear which the midwife stitched, and I got on with enjoying my baby! Jahnea
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