The report card
- Labour features30% of score8.6
Three labour programmes, a boost button, 60 intensity levels, a contraction timer and a labour log.
- Ease of use mid-contraction25% of score7.6
Backlit screen and neck cord help, but Mother&Baby testers found the number of settings a bit much.
- Pads & build15% of score7.2
Some owners feel the lightweight unit is less durable, and pads can lose their stick if they get dirty.
- Value & hire options20% of score8.4
Around £55 is good value for a unit with a timer.
- Use after birth10% of score7.4
Usable for postnatal back pain; the lactation claim for its breast pads is the manufacturer's, not independent evidence.
The full review
The Perfect mama+ is TensCare's step-up labour unit. It has three preset programmes aimed at different stages of labour, a boost button for contractions, 60 intensity levels so you can creep up gradually, and a backlit screen. Like the Elle TENS 2, it adds a contraction timer, plus a labour log that tracks how long you've been at it.
TensCare also includes breast electrode pads and says the unit can help initiate breast milk production. I haven't found good independent evidence for that, so I'd treat it as a curiosity rather than a reason to buy. It can be used after birth for back pain and period pain too.
Mother&Baby's panel of parent testers was broadly positive, praising the clear instructions and relief in early labour, with gripes about the storage pouch, managing the wires while moving around, pads losing adhesion and, for some, too many settings. On Amazon UK it averages 4.2 out of 5, from a smaller pool of around 45 ratings.
TensCare's own warnings are worth reading: don't use it with a pacemaker, a heart rhythm problem or other electronic medical devices, not in the first three months of pregnancy, and not on your abdomen later in pregnancy. At around £55 it's the best-value way to get a contraction timer if you're buying.
Pros and cons
What I like
- Contraction timer and labour log
- 60 intensity levels for gradual increases
- Three labour programmes plus a boost button
- Good price for the features
What I don't
- Some testers found the settings fiddly
- Pads can lose stickiness if they get dirty
- No hire option
Key specs
- Programmes
- 3 labour presets
- Intensity
- 60 levels
- Boost button
- Yes
- Contraction timer
- Yes, plus labour log
- Display
- Backlit
- Power
- AA batteries (included)
- Extras
- Breast electrode pads, belt clip, neck cord
Head-to-heads
What I read
This is a research-led review. These are the main sources behind the scores, alongside patterns in verified owner reviews. How I review.