I am certified in the use of a TENS Unit for laboring women, and I have purchased several for my clients who wish to use one.

A TENS Unit is a small, battery-operated device that generates electrical impulses and transmits them through stimulating pads placed on the back.  Some TENS Units are specifically designed to be used during labor. TENS Units are widely used during labor in Great Britain, and becoming more commonly used in the United States. This particular type of TENS Unit delivers a mild stimulation that only transmits to nerve fibers and not muscles. It is a safe, non-drug method of pain control for labor. Many of my clients have found the use of a TENS Unit during labor to be very effective in reducing pain. The brain receives messages from non-pain nerve fibers more quickly than pain stimuli, therefore the non-painful sensation from the TENS Unit overrides the sensations of labor, making the perception of the contraction less intense. The TENS Unit also causes the laboring mom’s body to produce Endorphins, the body’s natural pain reliever. The TENS Unit has several settings that can be adjusted during labor to increase its effectiveness as labor progresses. The TENS Unit is safe for both the mother and baby and often reduces or eliminates the use of an epidural.