When Should You Start Using A TENS Machine During Labour?
Posted by Lisa Akins on 31st Jul 2026
The short answer is earlier than most people expect. The Elle TENS machine works best when it's switched on right at the start of labour, not once contractions are already intense.
Why timing matters
A TENS machine helps in two ways: it interrupts pain signals travelling to the brain, and it encourages the body to release endorphins, its own natural pain-relieving hormones. NHS guidance notes it tends to work best during the latent, early phase of labour. The endorphin effect takes time to build
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