How the TENS transformed Amy’s birth to a blissful birth experience

The Bliss Birth TENS machine was my best friend, I loved the control it gave me and the boost button providing that additional hit of relief allowing me to continue focusing on my breathing techniques I had learnt at my Calmbirth course.

Babe #1

At 40+2 weeks pregnant, at midnight I got up to go to the toilet and had a strong contraction, so instead of going back to bed, I sat up for half an hour and had a few more contractions and they were starting to now have some bite. I decided to move to the lounge room, popped my labour playlist on, lit some candles and sat on my fit ball moving side to side and rested with my eyes closed down. I was excited at the prospect of spontaneous labour starting, but knew I needed to be restful and calm. A few hours passed and the milder contractions became more regular, longer in duration and stronger so I decided to wake my husband to help me put on my Bliss Birth TENS machine on… the relief was immediate. I offered my husband to go back to bed thinking this is early labour and the possibly the beginning of a long day ahead, however he opted to get up seeing that I was working harder then I considered myself to have been. My dear friend who is a midwife came to our home around 6am, when she walked in I bursted into tears of happiness that I was in spontaneous labour and that this was happening!

This was a huge surge of oxytocin as she gave me the most amazing squeeze in a cuddle and told me I can and I am doing this!

I spent most of my labour in the kitchen, staying upright, using the bench to lean into, supporting and grounding me as I moved, stepping side to side and remaining mobile.

When we felt the time felt was right we began our 45 minute drive into the hospital, my TENS machine kept me focused and calm for the car ride. My husband drove with my friend sitting in the passenger seat and with me in the back. I remember them talking about everyday things like the weather, nearly ignoring me in the back, this was so nice as it kept my husband calm and me slightly distracted but also left to my own devices. As soon as we arrived, my contractions intensified, coming every 2 minutes by the time we got up to the birthing suite.

The Bliss Birth TENS machine was my best friend, I loved the control it gave me and the boost button providing that additional hit of relief allowing me to continue focusing on my breathing techniques I had learnt at my Calmbirth course.

On arriving at the birth centre, I made my way straight into the shower however, I first had to be convinced that my TENS would be ready and waiting if and when I got out. Not long after getting into the shower, I was beginning to have the urge to push at the height of a contraction, this built up to be an innate urge to bear down. I decided to move from the shower, demanding the TENS machine be ready as soon as I was dry.

The urges continued to build until it was time to completely surrender to the uncontrollable bearing down. I intuitively changed positions in my pushing phase of labour from being upright – standing, to all fours and finally after not long pushing, birthing my daughter on the bed lying on my side. My baby was placed immediately onto my chest and we spent the next few hours skin to skin, breastfeeding and starting our journey as a mother and daughter, and becoming a family with my husband.