TENS Machine - How does it work?
Share
If you’re exploring natural pain-relief options for labour, you’ve probably heard about TENS machines. They’re one of the most popular tools for managing labour sensations—safe, drug-free, and easy to use at home or in a birth setting. But how do they actually work?
A TENS machine (short for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) is a small handheld device that sends gentle electrical pulses through the skin using adhesive pads placed on your back.
These pulses help your body cope with labour sensations in two main ways:
- Blocking the pain signals
- Boosting your natural endorphins
It’s a completely natural method of pain relief, with no impact on you, your baby, or the progress of labour.
How TENS helps during labour-
1. It Interrupts Pain Messages (“Gate Control Theory”)
Your brain can only process so many signals at once.
TENS pulses create a buzzing or tingling feeling on your skin, and that sensation competes with the pain messages travelling from your uterus and back.
This “crowds out” the pain signals before they reach your brain—so you feel the contractions less intensely.
2. It Boosts Natural Endorphins
When the TENS machine is used early in labour, those gentle pulses encourage your body to release endorphins, your built-in pain-relief hormones.
Endorphins help you stay calmer, more focused, and more in control—especially in the early and active stages of labour.
3. The Boost Button Helps You Cope With Each Contraction
Most labour TENS machines have a boost button that you press during a contraction.
When pressed:
- The pulses become stronger and faster
- Your brain gets an increased wave of sensory distraction
- Endorphin release ramps up
- You gain a feeling of control over each surge
When the contraction ends, you release the button, and the machine returns to a gentler background setting.
Why TENS are so effective-
✔ Completely safe for mum and baby
✔ Fully controlled by you
✔ Drug-free (so no side effects or drowsiness)
✔ Allows you to stay mobile
✔ Pairs easily with other comfort techniques (breathing, water, heat, movement)
Many mamas (including me) describe the TENS machine as something they couldn’t have birthed without it.
TENS are safe for most people, but it shouldn’t be used:
- In water (remove it before getting into a bath or birth pool)
- If you have a pacemaker
- On broken or numb skin
If in doubt, check with your midwife or healthcare provider.
A TENS machine is a powerful, natural tool that helps many birthing people stay calm, comfortable, and confident throughout labour. It supports you without limiting movement or impacting your birth plan—making it one of the most flexible options for labour comfort.
If you’re planning a home birth or want drug-free support during early labour, a TENS machine can be an invaluable part of your birth toolkit.