What is the TENS pain relief method? Pain sensation is blocked by a low-frequency electric current. This method of anesthesia is easy to use, non-invasive and very safe. How does TENS work? Are there any contraindications for the use of TENS in childbirth?

In the WestTENShas been known and used for years as a remedy forbirth pain . Research on the use of this method in obstetrics began in the 1970s and it was already put into practice first in Sweden, then in Great Britain, the USA, Germany and the Netherlands. TENS is very popular, especially in Great Britain, where it is used at approx. 20 percent. childbirths. Many hospital delivery departments have TENS at their disposal there, every midwife knows what this device is and how to use it. In Poland, the method of relieving labor pains is only just reaching the public awareness, so far it is proposed by only a few hospitals and independent midwives. However, the necessary equipment can be easily purchased online (PLN 300-500) or rented (PLN 100-200) and taken with you to the delivery room.

What is TENS

TENS stands for Transcuta-neous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, which in Polish means: transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. It sounds pretty nasty, but it's not terrible - quite the opposite. The TENS pacemaker is a device the size of a cell phone, powered by a battery, generating low-frequency impulse currents (1-150 Hz). Four flat, gel electrodes are connected to the pacemaker with wires, glued like patches to the birthing back. The labor TENS is also equipped with a remote control, which is used to change the intensity of the stimulation. When painful labor contractions begin, the electrodes should be glued to the back of the woman in labor (in the lumbar region) and the device should be turned on. As soon as contraction begins, the woman in labor presses a button on the remote control, regulating the strength of the electric pulse. This impulse reaches the body where the electrodes are attached, causing an analgesic effect - instead of contractions, the woman experiences mild tingling and a slight tightening of the back muscles around the electrodes.

TENS - how it works

The analgesic effect of this device is twofold. First, a weak current flow increases the body's release of endorphins ("hormoneshappiness "), which act as a natural pain reliever. Second, current stimulation of the sensory nerves partially blocks pain signals from being transmitted to the brain. It has been shown that stimulation of the sensory nerves at the site of pain reduces the number of pain stimuli and, as a result, weakens its perception - instead of pain the birthing person feels tingling.

Why is this happening? The point is, a nerve cell can only transmit one impulse at a time (for example, a tingling sensation or a feeling of pain). Which impulse will pass on is determined by its strength. So if an artificial, stronger sensory impulse is delivered to a cell that receives a natural pain impulse, it is the latter that will be passed on. In addition, the sensory nerves are thicker and carry signals faster than the pain nerves. Therefore, the brain, when perceiving the sensory stimuli, cannot keep up with the processing of pain stimuli and engages in a stronger stimulus. In other words, the TENS stimulator provides sensory stimuli to engage the nervous system and distract it from the pain stimuli. Is it successful?

You must do it

  • Before giving birth, read the instructions for use of the device or undergo a short training course (e.g. at centers where TENS can be borrowed), find out where to attach the electrodes, etc .; buy the correct batteries
  • bring a bathrobe or sweatshirt with pockets for the delivery so you don't have to hold the pacemaker in your hands all the time
  • start with a low current, then there is something to increase it from

    • Efficiency of the TENS method

    British research shows that women who have used TENS are mostly satisfied - as much as 80 percent. of them found that TENS significantly reduces pain sensation. Positive opinions also prevail among the so far narrow group of Polish users. However, there are two things worth noting. First of all, TENS relieves low back pain, while it has little effect on lower abdominal pain. Therefore, the women who suffered especially from back pain during childbirth benefited the most. Meanwhile, the most overwhelming pain is usually the lower abdomen. Note: The electrodes cannot be placed on the pregnant belly! Secondly, this method of pain relief works only up to a certain stage of labor, when the natural pain stimuli are not yet very strong and artificially induced sensory stimuli are able to drown them out. However, when the dilation reaches 6-7 cm and more, the contractions of the uterus become so intense that TENS is unlikely to reduce the pain sensation. It should also be remembered that pain susceptibility is always an individual matter and it is notguarantee that if something helped one person, it will help everyone else.

    Advantages of TENS

    Nevertheless, it is worth considering using TENS, especially if, for example, the selected hospital does not offer epidural anesthesia on request. This method has several advantages. First of all, it is completely safe - no undesirable side effects were found during multiple tests. TENS is completely safe for both the woman giving birth and her baby. So it can be a great alternative to dolargan drugs, which are not indifferent to the mother and baby. This is a great advantage, especially for those women who are against the medicalization of childbirth and want to avoid it. TENS is considered a non-invasive method. Contrary to narcotic drugs, TENS does not make a woman stupid or make her sleepy, and her awareness is not disturbed in any way. What's more, the ability to decide on the strength of the impulse to drown out contractions gives the woman a sense of pain control, which is of great importance for her psyche, and this translates into an efficient course of labor. Research shows that thanks to TENS the first stage of labor is shorter, so mum is less tired when the pressure phase comes. Mobility is also a great advantage of the method - during stimulation, you can move freely: walk and take positions that are comfortable for you. Before entering the bathtub or shower, all you need to do is remove the electrodes and then stick them on again.

    Contraindications to TENS

    There aren't many of them, but you need to know them all the more. So: do not place the electrodes on irritated, wounded skin, use at a distance of less than 1 m from active HF devices. TENS should not be used by mothers with a pacemaker, severe arrhythmia (cardiologist's opinion required) or epilepsy (neurologist's opinion and trial procedure under control required).

    Problem

    Where to get the device?

    You can buy them in many online stores. If you decide to buy a device, it can also be useful after childbirth, because it effectively fights, for example, menstrual pain, backache and rheumatic pain. which pacemaker can be rented. The following are examples of such institutions: Poznań - Good Beginbirth club and school, tel. (61) 66 19 413, 606 95 99 92, Bygdoszcz, tel. 600 326 654 (between 15-20).

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