Contraction Timer – Time Labour Contractions (5-1-1)

A free online contraction timer with the 5-1-1 check

This contraction timer times labour contractions with one big button: tap Start when a contraction begins and Stop when it ends. It shows how long each one lasted (duration), how far apart they are (frequency, from the start of one to the start of the next), averages for the last hour, and whether your pattern matches the rule your hospital or midwife uses — 5-1-1, 4-1-1, 3-1-1, the NHS “every 5 minutes or more often”, or your own numbers.

It is free, needs no app or account, and keeps the log only on your phone. It is information, not a diagnosis: if you think you are in labour, are unsure, or something feels wrong, call your maternity unit, labour ward, midwife or doctor — you never need to wait for the timer.

How to use the Contraction Timer

1. Choose the call pattern your hospital or midwife gave you, and whether this is your first baby.
2. When a contraction starts, tap Start. When it fades, tap Stop.
3. Repeat for each contraction. The checklist turns green as the pattern is met: often enough, long enough and for long enough.
4. Tap Undo last if you tapped by mistake. Download the log as a CSV to share with the unit if they ask.
5. When the pattern is met — or earlier if you are worried — call your maternity unit or labour ward.

Contraction Timer features

What the 5-1-1 rule means

5-1-1 is a rule of thumb used by many US hospitals and birth centres: contractions every 5 minutes or less, each lasting about 1 minute, for 1 hour. Some units use 4-1-1 or 3-1-1 instead, especially for a first baby, and some ask you to call sooner if you live far away, had a fast labour before or your pregnancy is high-risk. It is not a single official standard: the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) simply advises calling your obstetric care provider if you think you are in labour or are not sure.

In the UK, the NHS asks you to call your midwife or maternity unit for guidance if you have regular contractions every 5 minutes or more often, and urgently if any contraction lasts longer than 2 minutes or you have 6 or more in 10 minutes. Advice still differs between NHS trusts, so your own unit’s notes come first.

True labour or Braxton Hicks?

• True labour contractions come at regular intervals, get closer together and stronger, and each lasts about 60–90 seconds (ACOG).
• They carry on when you rest, drink water or change position; Braxton Hicks (“practice”) contractions usually fade.
• Pain from true labour often starts in the back and moves to the front; practice contractions are usually felt only at the front.
• Labour often takes longer the first time: the NHS gives about 8–18 hours of established labour for a first baby and often 5–12 hours for a second or third.

How the timer works out the pattern

For the 5-1-1 style rules, the timer looks at the contractions that started in the last hour (or the window you set). It checks that their average frequency is at or under the limit, that their average duration is at least the length set, and that you have been timing for the whole window. If the last contraction was long ago, the pattern resets. For the NHS rule it checks that the last four contractions started 5 minutes apart or less.

After the birth, the breast milk calculator and baby feeding chart help with feeds; during pregnancy the kick counter helps you get to know your baby’s movements.