The report card
- Labour features30% of score7.6
Three presets, a boost button and 60 intensity levels, but no contraction timer.
- Ease of use mid-contraction25% of score8.0
Backlit screen, neck cord and belt clip make it easy to wear and read.
- Pads & build15% of score7.0
Open-circuit detection drops output to zero if a pad lifts, though Mumsnet notes pads can lose their stick.
- Value & hire options20% of score9.0
At around £32 it costs little more than hiring.
- Use after birth10% of score6.5
Fine for postnatal back pain, but it is a labour-focused unit.
The full review
The Perfect mamaTENS is TensCare's entry-level labour unit, and at around £32 it's the one I'd point you to if you'd rather own than hire. You get three preset programmes, a boost button for contractions, 60 intensity levels for gentle increases and a backlit screen, plus a neck cord and a detachable belt clip.
There's a thoughtful safety feature too: open-circuit detection, which drops the output back to zero if a pad comes away from your skin, so you don't get a nasty jolt when you press it back on. It averages 4.5 out of 5 from more than 500 ratings on Amazon UK, and Mumsnet's roundup includes it with the caveat that the pads may lose their stick.
What you don't get is a contraction timer or labour log. TensCare's warnings match the Perfect mama+: not with a pacemaker or heart rhythm problem, not in the first three months of pregnancy and not on your abdomen later on. For most people using TENS in early labour at home, it covers the basics well.
Pros and cons
What I like
- Costs about the same as a seven-week hire
- Three programmes plus a boost button
- 60 intensity levels and a backlit screen
- Output cuts to zero if a pad comes loose
What I don't
- No contraction timer
- Pads can lose stickiness over time
Key specs
- Programmes
- 3 labour presets
- Intensity
- 60 levels
- Boost button
- Yes
- Contraction timer
- No
- Display
- Backlit
- Safety
- Open-circuit detection
- Power
- AA batteries (included)
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.