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.
