Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS)

The purpose of this study was to determine if women who had Cesarean birth experiences and used transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation as a means of pain control requested less pain medication and had shorter hospital stays than those who did not use TENS. I reviewed the medical charts of 72 women (46 using TENS, 26 not using TENS) retrospectively. Significantly less (F = 5.77; df = 1,65; p less than .02) meperidine hydrochloride was administered to the women who used TENS. The length of hospital stay of women using TENS was not significantly different than those who did not use TENS. My findings suggest that the use of TENS after Cesarean birth may result in decreased usage of medication and, therefore, a reduction of the side effects of the medication both to the mother and the infant.