FreeMOM TENS Labour pain management
INSTRUCTIONS
STEP 1 – Prepare the skin
You will need someone to assist prepare your skin.
Consider placing the labour electrode packaging on the lower back to assist provide a guide or template to best determine the location to wipe.
Prepare the labour electrode placement site with a Pre-TENS skin preparation wipe supplied with the labour electrodes.
Wipe the labour electrode placement site with a Pre-TENS skin preparation moving from side to side and up and down.
After wiping the skin, it is important to wait approx. 10-15 seconds to allow the wiped skin to dry.
Please dispose of the wipe safely.
STEP 2 – Apply the labour electrodes
Make sure the FreeMOM TENS is not connected to the labour electrodes.
1. Try and keep your back straight when the labour electrodes are applied.
To keep your back straight consider using things around you to assist provide support while someone prepares your back. Examples, hold onto the back of a chair or lean against a wall or lean on a kitchen bench.
2. Start applying the labour electrodes from the bottom up. Start below the butt crack or intergluteal cleft/crease and slowly move up the back (refer image above).
3. Leave a gap between the spine and each electrode of approx. 1-2 finger’s width either side of the spine.
4. Make sure the labour electrode extended lead or cables are positioned at the top. (refer to the image above)
This labour electrode position is more comfortable and will reduce the chance of the cables pulling and potentially disconnecting/separating from the long cable or get damaged.
Step 1 – fit the battery
Place the FreeMOM TENS in one hand and open the battery compartment lid by gently pressing your thumb on the lid and sliding the lid down.
The battery compartment is clearly marked negative “-” and positive “+”.
Insert one of the two batteries into the battery compartment. Insert the base of the battery first (2 9V batteries are supplied with the FreeMOM TENS kit).
Step 2 – fit the cable
For this step please leave the battery compartment lid open.
Insert the supplied cable plug into the socket in the base of the FreeMOM TENS stimulator.
Close the battery compartment lid by wrapping the lid over the cable and sliding it into place.
Connect the cable plug into the socket at the base of the FreeMOM TENS stimulator.
It is important to fit the cable plug from the side of the base that is attached to the battery lid.
Once the battery and cable are fitted, wrap the battery lid around and over the cable and slide and close the lid.
The fitted cable is now secure.
The cables is taken through your collar and connected to the labour electrodes.
Step 4 – fit the cable to the labour electrodes
Important: The FreeMOM TENS kit is turned OFF (no lights on) before you connect the cable to the FreeMOM TENS.
Connect the red and black plugs into the electrode sockets by pushing and twisting the plugs into the labour electrode white sockets.
Connect the cables red and black plugs (The plug colors are not important) into the labour electrodes sockets by using a pushing and twisting action.
Please the lanyard around your neck so your hands are free when you do not have to push the boost button.
(the cable plug colours are NOT important)t
Once contractions have started
Hold down the boost button and slowly turn up the amplitude control in the direction of the arrow (counterclockwise) until the “tingling” is strong but comfortable. Release your thumb from the boost button, you should feel the sensation on your back drop away/subside.
STEP 4 – Wait for the next contraction
Once you experience another contraction, (see below) press down on the boost button with a ‘flat’ thumb of one hand, use the pointer finger from your other hand to slowly turn the amplitude control in the direction of the arrow (counterclockwise) until the “tingling” is strong but comfortable. Once the contraction subsides release your thumb from the boost button.
(Please DO NOT PRESS or USE the boost button for this application)
STEP 6 – Once you are fully dilated you will no longer push the boost button
Slowly turn up/increase the amplitude control in the direction of the arrow (counterclockwise) until the “tingling” sensation is strong but comfortable.
STEP 7 – Internal fetal monitoring
If internal fetal monitoring is required during this phase, the team may request you remove the FreeMOM TENS kit. to pull out the cable plug from the base of the FreeMOM TENS stimulator. The FreeMOM TENS can be reconnected by plugging in the cable once monitoring is complete.
Step 8 – Induction / After birth pains
If labour is unduced or you experience ‘after birth pains’ and you feel pain associated with contraction of the uterus, refer to the additional application pages on the menu.
TBA
WIP
The FreeMOM TENS kit and labour electrodes are not waterproof.
Please remove and place the labour electrodes onto the shiny backing sheet and return into the supplied packaging to keep safe.
WIP