Tens Talk
Can I use a TENS machine from 37 weeks for pain relief?
By 37 weeks pregnant, it’s very common for you to start feeling the physical strain of late pregnancy — especially lower back pain, pelvic girdle pain, hip discomfort, sciatica, Braxton Hicks, and general muscular aches. There are often limited pharmaceutical pain relief options available for these everyday pregnancy discomforts, or you may prefer not to take medication during pregnancy, which is why many mums look for safe, drug-free ways to help you cope during those final weeks. A TENS machine works by sending small electrical pulses through your skin to help block pain signals and encourage the release of endorphins — your body’s natural pain relief chemicals. Research around TENS use in late pregnancy (from 37 weeks) has shown particularly positive results for lower back pain and pelvic girdle pain, with studies finding meaningful reductions in pain intensity and improved mobility for many women. Evidence around Labour TENS also shows it is considered a low-risk, non-invasive pain relief option when used correctly, with no evidence of harm to you or your baby in healthy term pregnancies. For many women, the biggest benefit of using a TENS from 37 weeks isn’t necessarily removing pain completely, but helping your discomfort feel more manageable while you stay mobile, rested, calm, and relaxed toward the end of pregnancy. As always, if you'd like to use your TENS from 37 weeks, if you have any concerns, check with your midwife first. A few important safety notes: Do NOT use the TENS machine in water. Always remove it before entering a bath, shower, or pool. Do NOT use a TENS machine if you have a cardiac pacemaker. Do NOT use a TENS machine if you have epilepsy. Do NOT place the electrode pads on the abdomen, head, face, neck, across the heart, or over areas with metal implants. Only use the electrodes on unbroken skin. Stop use immediately if irritation occurs and seek medical advice. Check with your medical adviser before using if you have a heart condition, unexplained pain, metal implants, or any concerns at all. TENS should NOT be used before 37 weeks of pregnancy unless under medical supervision. If you’d like to use it earlier for back pain, please check with your midwife first. It is safe, however, to test the TENS on a low setting for a short time on your arm or your partner’s arm.
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Where do I place the electrodes?
Correct placement is key to making your TENS effective at blocking pain signals. Here's a quick run-down: 1. Clean and dry your skin – this helps the pads stick. 2. Peel pads carefully – hold the pad, not the wires. Keep the backing for storage and future use. 3. Top pads (CH1): Place ~4 cm either side of your spine mid-bra line. 4. Bottom pads (CH2): Place ~4 cm either side of your spine, mid-panty line. Placing the electrodes is not an exact science and everyone's back is different and everyone's needs are different. It's ok to move the electrode pads up or down to get the most effective relief. Ask your birth partner to read this information — they’ll need to know where to place the pads during labour!
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What’s the best TENS machine for labour?
Which TENS machine is best for labour? Choosing the right TENS machine for the best pain relief during labour is important. Learn about how TENS helps give you control over your pain relief during labour.
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How to get the most from your Labour TENS machine
Being prepared before labour starts means you’ll know exactly how to use your TENS machine effectively when contractions begin. Here’s how to make sure you get the very best from it. 1. Open it before labour begins When your TENS arrives, don’t put it away for “later.” Open the box. Read through the instructions. Check all the components are there. Apply 2 electrode pads to your upper and lower arm (or your partner’s), switch it on and press the + arrow until you feel a small tingling sensation. This helps you become familiar with the feeling and reassures you that everything is working properly before you actually need it. 2. Make sure your birth partner knows how it works When contractions are building, you don’t want your birth partner reading the instruction booklet mid-contraction. Before labour starts, make sure your partner knows: How to turn the unit on and off How to increase and decrease the intensity How and when to use the boost button How to care for the electrode pads When you’re focusing inward, your partner should feel calm and confident supporting you. 3. Know exactly where the pads go Correct pad placement makes a real difference to how effective your TENS will be. Place: Two pads either side of your spine at bra-strap level Two pads lower down, level with the “dimples” in your lower back, just above your bottom This positioning targets the nerves connected to uterine contraction pain. As you get closer to your due date, you might like to mark small crosses on your back with a washable marker. When labour begins, there’s no guesswork — just calm, clear action. 4. Take care of your electrodes Good contact with your skin equals better results. Between uses: Stick the pads back onto their plastic backing sheets Keep them clean and safe Make caring for them your partner’s job If the pads start to lose their stickiness, rub a few drops of water into the gel side before reapplying. The more securely they stick, the better your TENS will work. 5. Start earlier than you think One of the biggest secrets to TENS success is starting early. As soon as you realise labour may be beginning — even if contractions are mild — apply your TENS. Early use helps your body increase its natural endorphin production before contractions become strong. Endorphins are your body’s own pain relief hormones. Building them early gives you a stronger foundation as labour progresses. 6. Turn it up gradually When you switch your TENS on: Start at a low setting Gradually increase the intensity as contractions build As contractions intensify aim for a strong but comfortable buzzing sensation It may take a few contractions to get used to the sensation. That’s completely normal. You’re in control of the intensity at all times. 7. Use the boost button at the peak Your boost button is designed specifically for contractions. As each contraction rises and reaches its peak, press boost. You’ll feel a stronger, more wave-like stimulation that helps override the pain signals your body is sending. When the contraction ends, turn boost off. Resetting it each time means you’ll get the full benefit during your next contraction. 8. Keep moving Your TENS won’t restrict your movement — and movement can actually enhance its effect. Walking, swaying, leaning forward, using a birth ball, or staying upright can help you feel more in control and can support your baby’s descent. Follow what feels right for your body. 9. Give it time TENS doesn’t always feel dramatic straight away. It can take 30–60 minutes for you to notice the full benefit. Try not to give up too quickly. Like many natural tools, it builds effectiveness over time. 10. Adjust as labour intensifies As your contractions grow stronger, your TENS may not block all of the pain — and that’s okay. At this stage, it may: Take the edge off each contraction Give you something steady to focus on Help you feel more grounded and in control Even if you choose to use other pain relief options, your TENS can often stay on (unless you’re getting into water). 11. Layer your comfort options Your TENS works beautifully alongside other techniques such as: Massage Breathing techniques Hypnobirthing Acupressure or reflexology Medical pain relief if you choose it It doesn’t have to be all or nothing. Think of your TENS as one supportive layer in your birth toolkit. 12. Remember — you’re in control Perhaps the most powerful thing about your TENS machine isn’t just the physical relief. You control the intensity.You control the boost.You decide when to turn it up, when to turn it down, and when to stop. That sense of control can be incredibly grounding during labour. Lastly Your Labour TENS machine is simple technology — but when you prepare well and use it early, it can be a steady, reassuring companion through each contraction. Practise with it. Trust it. Trust yourself. And remember — every contraction is bringing your baby closer to you.
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How does a TENS help during labour?
For a natural or low-intervention birth, there are simple but powerful ways you can support yourself to feel calm and in control during labour. A Labour TENS machine is a drug-free tool that helps you work with your body through contractions while staying mobile and present. A natural, drug-free option for labour TENS is a natural, drug-free option that many women choose to include in their labour toolkit when aiming for a more unmedicated birth. It works by supporting the body’s own pain-relief system, including the release of endorphins — your natural “feel-good” hormones that help you cope with the intensity of labour. TENS has been used since the 1970s and is widely recommended by midwives as a safe, non-invasive form of pain relief. Research has found TENS to be 100% safe for mum and baby and there is no recovery time needed after use. Helping you stay mobile and in control One of the biggest benefits women talk about is how mobile and in control they feel while using TENS. The machine is designed to move with you, so you can walk, sway, lean, change positions, and stay active during labour. This matters because movement is linked with more efficient labour progress and can help reduce how strongly contractions are felt. Support when other options aren’t available yet TENS can be especially helpful in those early hours of labour — at home, in the car, or while waiting for a birth pool or hospital care to become available. It gives you something practical you can use straight away, helping you stay focused and supported before other forms of pain relief are accessible. Can be used alongside other comfort techniques TENS doesn’t replace other comfort tools — it works alongside them. Many women use it together with: Breathing techniques Movement and position changes Massage Warm water or showering (remove the TENS before entering water) Hypnobirthing techniques Some women find TENS is all they need, while others use it as part of a wider combination of support strategies. The importance of control during labour Beyond the physical effects, many women say one of the most powerful parts of using TENS is the sense of control it gives them. Being able to adjust your own pain relief in real time can reduce fear and tension, which helps support the body’s natural labour hormones like oxytocin and endorphins — both essential for effective labour progress. Before and after birth TENS can also be used in late pregnancy for back pain (from 37 weeks, with midwife guidance). After birth, some women also use it to help ease after-pains as the uterus contracts back down or for recovery after a c-section. A simple, supportive tool for your birth For many women, TENS isn’t about eliminating pain completely — it’s about having something simple, safe, and familiar they can rely on. A tool that helps them feel more supported, more in control, and more able to work with their body through labour.
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When Should I Start Using my TENS machine?
The sweet spot for using a Labour TENS is early labour — when you first notice those crampy, on-and-off sensations and realise things are starting. Starting early helps your body build endorphins and lets you get used to the sensation before contractions intensify. As soon as you know you’re in labour, pop it on low and gradually increase the intensity as things progress. A common mistake is waiting until established labour, or until contractions feel fully intense - that's often too late. If you put your TENS on, and feel like it's not right for you, don't give up on it! Turn the intensity down low and as you get used to the sensation, slowly increase it. Give it an hour before making any decisions. If you’re being induced, it’s a good idea to start using your TENS early as well. During an induction, your body may have less time to naturally build and release endorphins, which is where TENS can really help support you. TENS is all about encouraging your body’s own endorphin response. You can keep your TENS on throughout your entire labour and combine TENS with other forms of support.
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What Is a Labour TENS Machine?
A Labour TENS machine (that’s Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, but let’s just say ‘TENS’ instead!) is a small, clever, (and very safe) device that helps manage pain during labour. TENS machines have been used to manage pain since the 1970's. They're widely used throughout New Zealand and internationally. TENS works by sending gentle electrical pulses through four sticky pads on your lower back — like a little “buzz” that helps distract your brain from contraction pain. These pulses work in two brilliant ways: They interfere with pain signals reaching your brain. They encourage your body to release endorphins — those amazing natural painkillers. TENS is a bit like giving your nervous system something else to focus on — which is why we like to call it a “contraction distraction.” TENS is completely safe, non-invasive, and gives you control over your own pain relief — no needles, no medications, and no side effects. Midwives love them. Mums swear by them. And the best part? TENS is pain relief you can use right from the start of labour, for those long hours of labouring at home or settling in for the home birth you’ve been planning.
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The ‘How’ Behind Labour TENS: Understanding Pain Gate Theory
If you're the sort of person who likes to know the 'how' behind how something works, then read our explanation of how TENS works to block pain through the pain gate theory. The gate control theory of pain suggests that our perception of pain is not just the result of a straightforward signal from our nerves to the brain, but is instead modulated by a "gate" mechanism in the spinal cord. This "gate" can either allow or block pain signals before they reach the brain. If the gate is open, pain signals pass through and are sent to the brain, where they are perceived as pain. If the gate is closed, pain signals are blocked and do not reach the brain, reducing the perception of pain. During labour, your body sends pain signals from your uterus to your brain through nerves. These pain signals are intense. A TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) machine is used by placing 4 sticky pads on your lower back. This area is chosen because it’s a key site where pain signals from the uterus pass through the spinal cord. The TENS machine generates small (safe) electrical impulses that travel through the skin and stimulate the nerves. The impulses feel like a pleasant pulsing sensation. These electrical impulses stimulate the sensory nerve fibres, particularly the large A-beta fibres, which are responsible for transmitting non-painful sensations like touch and pressure. According to the gate control theory, stimulating these large nerve fibres helps to "close the gate" in the spinal cord. The gate is a figurative way of describing how the spinal cord controls the flow of pain signals to the brain. When the gate is closed, fewer pain signals from the smaller pain-carrying nerve fibres can pass through. With the gate closed, the number of pain signals reaching the brain is reduced. This results in a decreased perception of pain. In addition, the TENS machine also promotes the release of endorphins, the body's natural painkillers, which further helps in pain relief. When using a TENS, it’s important to give your body time to build up these endorphins so you should put the TENS on early in labour. As your labour progresses and the contractions increase in intensity, you can control the strength of the electrical impulses, allowing you to manage your pain more effectively. In summary, a TENS machine helps reduce pain by stimulating nerve fibres that close the gate in the spinal cord, thereby blocking pain signals and reducing the perception of pain, as well as increasing the release of endorphins.
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8 ways to get the most out of your Labour TENS machine
Here’s how to get the most out of your Labour TENS MachineA Labour TENS can be a game-changer for drug-free comfort — here’s how to make it work for you!1. Read the instructions firstWhen your TENS arrives, take a few minutes to read the guide and familiarise yourself with the buttons so you feel confident using it when labour begins.2. Correct pad placement mattersThe electrode pads should be placed on specific points on your back along the nerve pathways that carry pain signals from the uterus. Correct placement helps maximise pain blocking and endorphin release.3. Start earlyBegin using the TENS in early labour. Starting early helps stimulate endorphin release and can make the stimulation more effective as labour progresses.4. Start low and increase graduallyBegin with a low intensity and let your body get used to the sensation. As contractions strengthen, gradually increase the intensity. Not sure about the feeling at first? Don’t give up too quickly — turn it down and give it at least an hour to adjust.5. Use the boost button at the peak of contractionsPress the boost button at the peak of each contraction to deliver a stronger pulse when you need it most.6. Combine with other comfort techniquesTENS works beautifully alongside movement, massage, breathing techniques, or using a birth ball.7. If it’s working, keep it onIf you’re managing well with the TENS, keep using it. Taking it off can interrupt your rhythm and the flow you’ve built during labour.8. Use TENS before & beyond labourA TENS machine can also be useful from around 37 weeks for back pain, as well as for afterpains or back discomfort while learning to feed your baby.
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