TENS for Doulas
Learn how to use a TENS unit confidently with clients in labor.
Three hours of video you watch at your own pace, plus live Q&A with me. Includes 3 CE contact hours.
Your class includes 3 live Q&A sessions with me on Zoom, to use within 12 months.
Includes the Airtable TENS client tracker. See everything $59 covers
Clients are starting to ask about TENS.
TENS, or Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation, is a non-pharmacological option for labor pain relief with few disadvantages. It has not been widely used in the United States, but interest in it is growing, and clients are starting to ask.
If a client has ever mentioned TENS and you've felt unsure how to answer, this training closes that gap. You'll learn what TENS is, who it's a fit for, how to apply it safely, and how to talk about it during prenatal visits and use it in labor.
I have had a couple of clients in the past inquire about TENS units during labor, but I didn't have enough knowledge or training to feel comfortable using them. I now feel very confident using a TENS unit and supporting my clients who choose to use them.
One more skill for your doula bag, and the confidence to use it the next time a client asks.
For birth doulas. Start any time and go at your own pace.
What you will learn in this class
By the end of the three hours, you'll be able to:
- How it works
Define transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) and explain how it functions using established pain management theories.
- Pros and cons
Identify at least two clinical advantages and two potential drawbacks of using TENS in pregnancy and labor.
- Precautions
List three contraindications or precautions for TENS use during labor.
- Pad placement
Demonstrate appropriate placement of TENS unit pads and explain the difference between burst and continuous modes.
- In your practice
Describe how to safely integrate TENS into a doula practice while considering client safety, scope of practice, and professional boundaries.
Three hours, four parts
Watch the videos on your own schedule. When you're ready to use TENS with a client, bring your questions to a live Q&A with me.
What TENS is and how it works
How TENS relieves pain, how it is used around the world, and where it fits in your scope of practice, including the DONA Standards of Practice.
You'll be able to explain TENS in plain words.
Benefits, drawbacks, and who it's for
Ways doulas use TENS in pregnancy and labor, the pros and cons, and who should not use TENS.
You'll know when TENS is a fit and when to skip it.
The unit in your hands
The parts of a TENS unit, safe use and client consent, where the pads go, and when to use burst or continuous mode.
You'll know where the pads go and how to adjust the settings.
Bringing TENS into your practice
Case-based scenarios, how to talk with clients about TENS, and how to add it to your doula package.
You'll have a plan for using TENS with your clients.
What changes after you take this class
- Confidence with clientsYou'll feel ready when a client asks about TENS. You'll know how to walk through whether it's a fit and how to use it during labor.
- An add-on for your packageMany students offer TENS as part of their doula package or rent units to other doulas in their area. The training covers how.
- Prenatal and labor supportPractice pad placement with a client at a prenatal visit, then use TENS in labor knowing where the pads go and when to adjust the settings.
$59. Includes live Q&A with me and 3 CE contact hours.
One thing to know before you enroll
A TENS unit is not included in the cost of the class. If you don't have one yet, I share the units I recommend in TENS Machines for Doulas: My Top Recommendations.
In their words
The TENS has become my number one tool in my bag. Learn how to properly use it and get one for all your clients.
As a DONA birth doula I was previously unable to use TENS within the bounds of my certification and now I have another offering for my clients.
I just got to use my TENS unit with my first client yesterday and she said it was an absolute game changer! She credited it completely with being able to stay home as long as she did before heading into the hospital. I felt really empowered being able to show her how to use it and having that tool on hand for her. VERY glad I took your training!! ⚡️
Who's teaching this
Hi, I'm Robin Elise Weiss.
I've trained more than 10,000 doulas and attended more than 1,500 births. Scope of practice is part of how I teach TENS, alongside how it works and how to use it safely.
This class gives you what you need to answer a client's questions about TENS and to use it with them in labor.
PhD, MPH, MSHPE, LCCE, CLC, PMH-C, AdvCD/BDT(DONA)
What $59 covers
- Video
- Three hours of training in four parts. Watch at your own pace.
- Live Q&A
- Live Q&A with your instructor. Your class includes 3 live Q&A sessions with me on Zoom, to use within 12 months.
- CE hours
- 3 CE contact hours you can apply toward certification or recertification, once you finish the videos and the short evaluation. Approved through DONA International, course number CEP002-009-W.
- Client tracker
- An Airtable tracker for your TENS clients, included with your class.
- Access
- Yours for as long as the course is available. Start any time.
- Not included
- A TENS unit.
Registration is nonrefundable because this is a digital course.
Trained with me? See the alumni page for your discount.
Questions
Is any of this live?
The three hours of training are videos you watch on your own schedule. Your class also includes 3 live Q&A sessions with me on Zoom, to use within 12 months, so you can bring your questions about using TENS with your own clients.
Is a TENS unit included?
No. A TENS unit is not included in the cost of the class. I share the units I recommend in TENS Machines for Doulas: My Top Recommendations.
Who is this class for?
Birth doulas, new or practicing, who want to offer TENS to clients or feel ready when a client asks about it.
Does this include CE hours?
Yes. Finish the videos and the short evaluation, and you'll get a certificate for 3 CE contact hours you can apply toward certification or recertification. The class is approved through DONA International, course number CEP002-009-W.
Does the class cover scope of practice?
Yes. I walk through where TENS fits in your scope of practice, including the DONA Standards of Practice. If you certify with a different organization, check its standards too.
What else is included?
An Airtable tracker for your TENS clients is included with your class.
How long do I have access?
As long as the course is available. Come back to it whenever you want a refresher before a birth.
Can I get a refund?
No. Registration is nonrefundable because this is a digital course.
The next time a client asks about TENS, you'll know what to tell them and how to use it in labor.
Ready to bring TENS to your next birth?
Three hours of video. 3 live Q&A sessions with me. 3 CE contact hours. $59.