TENS: Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation is administered via a TENS machine, a small box which is attached to parts of the body with wires and pads. Electrical impulses are sent through the wires to nerve endings to prevent the pain messages which are being sent by your womb and cervix from reaching your brain. You put a pad on either side of your spine at bra level and one at either side of the base of your spine just above your buttocks. You can then control the stength of the pulses. It should be used from as early in labour as possible as it can take an hour to take effect.

Pros: It is completely drug free, you can control the pulses, you can still use other forms of pain relief, there are no side effects, it can be used at home and you can practice when getting Braxton Hicks or in very early labour, it can be used after the birth for any adult suffering from muscle pain

Cons: Not everyone likes the sensations, not everyone feels like it works for them, it may become annoying or not enough in late labour, very few hospitals make them available so you will have to buy or hire one (from the internet or your local pharmacy), it may disrupt the monitor used to check your baby’s heartbeat, you cannot use it for water births