What is a TENS unit?

The TENS unit is a machine that provides gentle electrical stimulation through four pads placed on your back in a specific alignment. The pads feel like they are tingling or buzzing and the intensity can be adjusted manually. The specific unit I carry also has a boost mode where the intensity can change and increase when you are contracting and can also time the length of the contraction boost. This can both track your labor contractions and their patterns and help you cope better with the waves of surges.

The theory behind the use of the TENS unit is the Gate Control theory which explains that if we flood our brains and nerves and neurons with signal they will less likely focus on the pain. I think if a dermatologist having a buzzer on a totally untouched part of your body to distract your brain so that they can remove the mole or inject the numbing medication or remove the wart or skin tag. It’s using distraction that can change in intensity and uses electrical current to flood your brain with sensation other than the contraction.

I’ve recently trained and certified in using a TENS unit in labor and am excited to offer this service to my clients. I have multiple units that I will lend to my clients to try out in early labor.