We chatted with Jane from Natal Care Naturally, who for over 18 years has been supporting women in achieving natural, drug-free births using Labour TENS machines. Over that time, TENS has grown substantially in popularity. Why? Because when used correctly, it can be a game-changer for women wanting a natural birth.
"I had a lovely mum tell me this week that she managed a 16-hour induction with the TENS as her only form of pain relief. She described it as her life-saver," Jane shares. TENS works particularly well for inductions because it supports your body to release endorphins — your natural pain-relieving hormone — helping you cope with contractions while remaining calm and focused.
Used and recommended by midwives across New Zealand, a Labour TENS (Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation) machine is one of the safest and most effective tools for natural pain relief during labour. Completely drug-free and easy to use, it helps you stay mobile and in control from those early contractions — often allowing you to labour at home longer and reducing the chance of medical intervention later on.
How a Labour TENS Works
A Labour TENS is more than just a gadget — it works with your body and your natural hormones to support you through labour. The device sends gentle electrical impulses through pads placed on your lower back. The frequency of these impulses — measured in hertz (Hz) — determines how your nervous system responds, triggering natural pain relief at key moments.
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Between contractions (~2–5 Hz) – Building your natural pain relief
This slower pulse encourages your body to release endorphins, your natural painkillers. These attach to opioid receptors in your brain and spinal cord, reducing pain perception and promoting calm between contractions. -
During contractions (~80–120 Hz) – The Boost button for instant relief
By pressing the Boost button at the peak of a contraction, the TENS switches to a faster rhythm. This stimulates sensory nerves to “close the gate” to pain signals traveling to your brain — a principle known as the Gate Control Theory of Pain. The high-frequency pulses effectively drown out pain signals, giving you instant relief and a focus point through each contraction.
By alternating between these two modes, a Labour TENS works with your body’s natural hormonal rhythms — enhancing endorphin release, supporting calm, and helping you flow with each wave of labour.
Why Mums Love Using a Labour TENS
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Completely drug-free — no side effects for you or your baby.
- Midwife approved — widely recommended as a safe, effective tool for natural pain relief.
- Keeps you mobile — walk, sway, lean or kneel while using it.
- Puts you in control — adjust intensity and press Boost at the peak of each contraction.
- Pain relief at home — helps you stay calm and confident right from early labour.
- Pairs beautifully with other techniques — breathing, massage, acupressure, or hypnobirthing.
Jane says, 'If you’re aiming for an unmedicated, intervention-free birth, it helps to understand how your body and hormones naturally work together to bring your baby into the world. Trust each contraction, work with your body rather than against it, and use your TENS machine to support your body in doing exactly what it’s designed to do.'
The Takeaway
If you’re preparing for a calm, drug-free birth, a Labour TENS is one of the best tools you can have by your side. Safe, natural, and designed to work with your body and hormones, it supports you through every contraction — carrying you closer to the moment you meet your pēpi.