Electrodes
Your electrodes are the only part of your Elle TENS machine that touches your skin, and everything the machine does, it does through them. These guides cover what they are, how far a pack goes, how to keep them working, and why the pads that came with your machine are the ones to use.
Maternity TENS electrodes: why every detail is deliberate
The contractions are at the front. The pads go on your back — and that is deliberate. Maternity TENS electrodes are the four large pads that carry the stimulation from your machine to your skin, sitting either side of your spine where the signals from every contraction travel. Each pad is 40 x 100mm, with a medical-grade hypoallergenic gel made for hours on skin.
Your electrodes, from 37 weeks to the first days with baby
One pack covers the day itself. A second is worth having if you plan to use your Elle TENS® from 37 weeks, or you would rather labour started on an unopened pack. Your machine comes with one sealed pack of four pads — and a pair has one more job in the first days with your baby.
One thing keeps your electrodes sticky, and they tell you when they are done
Moisture. Your electrodes grip and conduct for as long as the gel holds it — so when the grip fades, a small drop of water brings it back. A slippery pad is the opposite: it needs time, not water. Store them on their film, sealed and out of the sun. A pad that will not hold even after water is done.
Can I use any TENS pads with my Elle TENS machine?
The pads that come with your machine are the ones it was built around — sized for the job they do on your back, and built to hold on while you move about for hours. They were tested and registered with the machine as one system, which is also what keeps your warranty and cover in place. Other pads will often plug in. What has not been matched is everything after that.
That is the whole series. Back to Learn for everything else