Transcutaneous nerve stimulation for pain relief in labour

Abstract

Transcutaneous nerve stimulation (TNS) was asessed for use on thirty-five patients in labour. It was of great benefit to 20% of patients and some benefit to a total of 82%. It was especially appreciated by those patients who complained of backache and further studies should be undertaken with the original idea of TNS in mind--stimulating those areas which feel most painful for the patient. If the method could be made more universally available and could be used by patients and midwives alone with the minimum of supervision and explanation, it would be a safe and useful addition to the present methods of pain relief in labour.