Is TENS units safe during pregnancy?
NHS says not to use TENS while pregnant unless your doctor or midwife tells you to; it is sometimes used for labor pain.
PregnancyAsk your clinician
BreastfeedingAsk your clinician
EvidenceLimited
What the sources say
NHS lists pregnancy (unless a doctor or midwife advises it), epilepsy, and having a pacemaker as reasons not to use TENS. NHS also lists labor pain among the conditions TENS can help, so use in pregnancy should be guided by your maternity team. The sources reviewed do not address breastfeeding, so ask your clinician.
Common alternatives
Also listed as
electrical muscle stimulator, ems device, labor tens, tens, tens machine, tens unit, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation
Sources
Last reviewed . This is general information, not medical advice. Ask your doctor or midwife about your own situation.