The Playbook

Contraction timer

One big button. Tap when a contraction starts, tap when it ends. The timer tracks length and frequency over the last hour and tells you when the pattern matches the guideline her provider gave you.

–average length (last hour)
–average start-to-start (last hour)
0contractions timed

Time at least a few contractions to see a pattern.

Use whatever your midwife or OB told you. If they gave you a different rule, follow theirs.
Call right away, whatever the timer says, if

her water breaks, there is bright red bleeding, the baby is moving less than usual, she has a severe headache or vision changes, a fever, constant severe pain, or she is under 37 weeks with regular contractions. When in doubt, call her provider or labor and delivery. Emergencies: 911.

By the Guide to Fatherhood editorial team. Last reviewed .

Checked against guidance from organizations like the AAP, CDC, ACOG and NHS (linked below). This is general information, not medical advice. Read our medical disclaimer.

How to time contractions

  1. Tap “Contraction started” the moment she says one is starting. Don’t make her narrate it; a nod works.
  2. Tap “Contraction ended” when it fades.
  3. Repeat. After three or four, you will see the average length and the average time from the start of one to the start of the next.

The status line compares the last hour against the guideline you choose. When it says the pattern matches, that is the cue to call her provider or labor and delivery and follow their instructions. Don’t drive straight in without calling unless they told you to, or it’s an emergency.

The guideline is her provider’s, not ours

The 5-1-1 rule (5 minutes apart, 1 minute long, for 1 hour) is a widely used rule of thumb for first labors. It is not universal. Providers often give earlier instructions for a second or later baby, when you live far from the hospital, when her water has broken, or when there’s a medical reason. Ask at a late-pregnancy appointment, write the answer down, and pick the matching rule in the timer.

Call immediately, whatever the timer says

According to ACOG and NHS guidance, call her provider or the hospital right away if:

  • Her water breaks, or she is leaking fluid, especially if it is green, brown, or smells bad.
  • There is vaginal bleeding heavier than spotting.
  • The baby is moving less than usual.
  • She has a fever, a severe headache, vision changes, or sudden swelling.
  • The pain is constant and severe, not coming and going.
  • Contractions are regular and she is under 37 weeks. That can be preterm labor.

For anything that feels like an emergency, call 911.

What you are doing while you time

Timing is about 10% of your job in early labor. The rest:

  • Help her rest between contractions. Early labor can last many hours, especially with a first baby.
  • Keep her drinking water and eating light snacks if her provider allows it.
  • Do the counter-pressure, massage, or breathing you practiced.
  • Get the bags, phone chargers and car seat in the car.
  • Keep the house calm: lights low, minimal visitors, phones away.

More in what to do when labor starts.

Frequently asked questions

What is the 5-1-1 rule?

A common guideline for a first baby: contractions about 5 minutes apart, each lasting about 1 minute, for at least 1 hour. Many providers use it as the point to call or head in. Others use 4-1-1, or different advice for a second baby, a long drive, or a medical condition. Use whatever her provider told you.

How do you measure how far apart contractions are?

From the start of one contraction to the start of the next. That is how providers ask for it, and it is what this timer measures.

How do I tell real contractions from Braxton Hicks?

True labor contractions come at regular intervals, get closer together, get stronger, and keep going whatever she does. Practice (Braxton Hicks) contractions tend to be irregular and often ease with rest, a change of position, or water. When you can't tell, call.

When should we call right away, regardless of timing?

If her water breaks, there is bleeding like a period or heavier, the baby is moving less than usual, she has a fever, severe or constant pain, a severe headache or vision changes, or regular contractions before 37 weeks. In an emergency, call 911.

Does the timer keep working if I lock my phone?

The timer stores start and end times, so the numbers stay right. Keep the page open; your log is saved on the device if the browser reloads.

Sources

  1. How to Tell When Labor Begins, American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
  2. Signs that labour has begun, NHS
  3. Stages of labor and birth: Baby, it's time!, Mayo Clinic
  4. Preterm Labor and Birth, ACOG

We link to the original source for every medical and safety claim. Guidance changes; if a source has been updated since our last review, the source wins. How we research.