It can be a daunting process to begin inducing lactation, especially if you have never been pregnant, or it has been a long time since your last pregnancy. To get started you need to stimulate your breasts to encourage milk production. Stimulating and “expressing” needs to be done on a regular schedule to be effective. The trouble is, you don’t always have the time to stimulate your breasts for 15-20 mins. every 3-4 hours during the day. Without regular and constant stimulation your breasts will take longer to respond with milk – this is where a TENS unit can come in handy.
TENS stands for Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, and is most commonly used to stimulate nerves and muscles to alleviate pain. The TENS unit is a device that produces a very low electric current that flows from one electrode to the other electrode of the same channel. Most TENS Units are either single channel (two electrodes) or they have two channels (two pairs of electrodes).
For lactation purposes, you can use a TENS unit to stimulate the nerves in your breasts. When you stimulate the nerves in and around your nipple and breast it promotes the release of prolactin, which, in turn, stimulates growth and development of the milk-producing tissues in your breasts, leading to lactation.
Using the TENS Unit
To use the TENS for stimulating your breasts, use one channel (two wires that branch from the same wire) on one breast. Each channel of a TENS unit connects to two pads. The current travels between these pads. The electrodes (pads) should be placed on each side of the nipple, about ½ inch to an inch from the areola. The wires should be marked + and – for each channel, but if they are not marked just be certain that each breast is using wires from the same channel.
The image to the right shows proper placement of the electrodes.
A WORD OF CAUTION:
- You should never cross channels across your heart.
- TENS units have an extremely small micro amperage current and it would be very unlikely for one to trigger an arrhythmia, but if you are wearing a pacemaker, you should not use a TENS Unit without discussing it with your doctor first.
When Should I Use a TENS?
The TENS unit is not intended to replace nursing, pumping, or manual expression of your breasts. You will still need to continue your regular schedule, it is only meant to stimulate when you are not able to.
While Inducing
For maximum benefit, turn on the TENS for 15-20 minutes every two hours. Most units now are preprogrammed to shut off automatically after 20 minutes. Prolactin is released from the pituitary in about 4-5 discrete pulses over 15 to 20 minutes with suckling. After this more release does not occur for a while so stimulating the breast for more than 15-20 minutes does not cause more Prolactin release.
After You have Milk
Once you start getting milk in the breasts, don’t use the TENS to replace your regular sessions, you must add pumping to remove it because milk staying in the alveoli is a powerful influence to turn the alveoli back off. You can also use it to supplement stimulation with pumping later when you want to pump only 2 or 3 times a day. You can also use it to stimulate during the night while you sleep to accelerate the changes.
Buying a TENS Unit
Today’s TENS units are small and discreet and can be worn under your clothing without anyone knowing that you are stimulating your breasts as you go about your daily routine! When choosing a TENS, if possible, choose one with at least 2 channels so you can apply stimulation to both breasts simultaneously.
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Best TENS for Stimulating Lactation |
Thank you so much for the information you’ve shared. I have tiny nipples would using the tens help me increase my nipple size? During ovulation my nipples invert and cause alot of pain? Do you have any experience getting pain relief on the nipples with tens?
To overcome your small and inverted nipples, I recommend you buy a pair of NSCs (ie Nipple Suction Cups), available on-line. These can be used two or more times per day for 10 mins at a time, to draw your nipples out and to enlarge them.
The sensation of the tens on my breasts is very pleasant. Are there any potential issues with just leaving it on for longer than recommended? Like all day, lol? Also would it possibly speed up potential induction?
I want to achieve lactation. I kinda fell into this. My one breast just started to feel moist against my bra. I started to research all this, and I feel connected. I go back and forth with inducing. I have had some success. Can you suggest a small cheaper tens I can get.
Will a higher setting on the TENS machine help, hinder or make no difference with inducing lactation?
Today was my first day using a TENS unit, and WOW! It felt great, and I could tell it was doing what it needed to. ANR has intrigued me for a while, and I finally made the jump to start the process.
I’m very happy that the TENS unit is small and discreet so I can still use it while at work, but my concern is what to do when my milk comes in. I’d like to pump while I’m at work so I’m not in pain from not releasing any milk, but I feel like I won’t be able to be discreet about that piece of it. How do I explain why I need to pump when my youngest is no where near an infant lol. Has anybody has any success keeping pumping to themselves?
It kinda itches when i use the Tens unit. Why? Is it too strong or is this normal?
I’ve got a tens unit that has all sorts of settings and don’t know which is best. It has tens ems IF and Russian therapy modes, what frequencies are best? So many settings and not sure what sort of sensation I’m looking for.
Can you please clarify what you mean by crossing wires?
Is it okay to use the tens with nipple piercings in?
I agree Tish, i used mine for a similar time and got pretty good results after around 20+ days. I had to adjust the electrodes a few times but i got them to a point where it felt really good lol. its patience imo, just stick with the machine and also using your fingers too! I eventually found my saving grace which was the shaped electrodes.
Hey everyone! I’ve been pumping for about 3 weeks now. I work part time so on the days I don’t work I get around 7 pumping sessions in a day; until about 11ish at night. I don’t pump during the night yet, I’ve tried a couple of times but my husband is a away for a while and I don’t see the point of waking up cranky every morning for nothing lol
Anyways, my breasts have responded by my milk ducts swelling up (they feel like pebbles in my boobies if I don’t pump for a while) and for about the past week I’ve been getting tiny spots (I wont say drops because they don’t drop off my nipples..yet) on my nipples; one side spots clear and the other spots white. I’m not taking any drugs to help induce, although I am taking some herbs.
I purchased a TENS unit and tried it a couple of times at work. It felt great and I can tell it was doing it’s job. I’m just so scared that it will somehow hurt my heart. (I’m a worry wart) I don’t have any heart issues but that doesn’t mean it’s still not scary. I’m hoping someone can help me get through that fear. And we all know how difficult it is to tell friends, family or even my dr. (I haven’t told anyone except for now).
I’m also hoping someone can tell me how great it is that I’m showing some results without drugs haha I need a little motivation since this is taking so long. I knew it would and I’m in it for the long haul, I just hope there’s someone else out there like me who could help <3
What kind of pump do you use? Did you have your man suckling you as well?
I am currently using a tens to stimulate lactation. I do not understand how it can be used after my milk comes in…will it cause let down?
This question is for anyone who used the tens unit and had results. How long did you use the unit before you noticed results? Thank you in advance for replies. I’m currently in process of adopting and would love to nurse as I had done my 2 previous birthed children.
I used a tens unit to quickly induce lactation upon our adoption. It was so successful because I found a few mods to make the stimulation feel absolutely heavenly when applied directly on my nipples. I felt an exquisite and compelling let-down reflex almost every time I used the tens. I will be happy to supply more details.
Hi, I was wondering if you could provide more details on the tens unit and settings you used please.
Hello, could you please provide somewhat of a timeline as to how long you started using the unit to the time you noticed results. PLEASE REPLY ASAP 05/06/18
Hey Tish, I was just curious how often you used it and how long before your milk came in? Thanks for sharing your knowledge ????
Please tell me how you modified the process so it felt better. I really want this to work.
You apply it directly to your nipple?
My TENS Unit came with pads and nipple connectors as ordered. I use the nipple connectors which do not effect may heart, as the electricity streams across the front of the chest away from the heart. Using my TENS for 20 mins per session every two hours for seven times in one day, gave me noticeable breast growth results within 24 hours. Am using it less frequently now, and still getting positive results.
Hi, can you share the information with me? I find all the tens unit information confusing.
Please share your tens settings!
What device did you use?
Thank you for sharing. I am trying to induce myself and I would like to find a way to produce a little faster. How quickly did you see results ?
Would love more info please!
How long did it take for your milk to come in?-audrey
Can you explain in detail about how to stick the two pads onto each breast? You mentioned that you put it directly onto the nipples. Was that one sticky pad per nipple? Thanks.