Contraction Timer
One tap per contraction: length, frequency, last-hour averages and a 5-1-1 alert.
Contraction timer
Press Start when a contraction begins, and Stop when it ends.
Call your maternity unit, midwife or doctor now if
- your waters break — especially if the fluid is green, brown, blood-stained or smells
- you have vaginal bleeding
- your baby is moving less than usual
- you have constant, severe pain with no break between contractions
- you have regular contractions before 37 weeks
- you think you are in labour — or you are not sure
In an emergency, call your local emergency number. The timer is a guide, not medical advice.
Time to call?
Log
No contractions timed yet. The log stays on this device.
| # | Started | Length | Interval | Remove |
|---|
For general information only, not medical advice. Consult a qualified health professional for advice about your situation.
About the Contraction Timer
Press the big button when a contraction starts and again when it ends. The timer records how long each one lasts and how often they come — from the start of one to the start of the next, the way midwives and doctors ask about it — shows the averages over the last hour, and lights up when your contractions reach a pattern you choose, such as 5-1-1 (about every 5 minutes, lasting about 1 minute, for an hour).
The log stays on this device, survives a reload, and can be copied or downloaded to show your midwife or doctor. Where the browser supports it, the screen stays on while you time. The warning signs below always apply, whatever the timer says: if you think you are in labour, or you are not sure, call your maternity unit, midwife or doctor.
How to use it
- Press Start (or Space, with the button focused) when a contraction begins and Stop when it ends. Breathe; the timer does the counting.
- Watch Last hour: how often contractions come, how long they last, and the latest ones in the log.
- Choose the pattern your maternity team told you to call at — 5-1-1, 4-1-1, 3-1-1 or your own — and the timer shows when it is reached.
- Tapped by mistake? Use Undo last or remove a line from the log. Use Copy summary or Download CSV to share the log.
Examples
Last hour: 12 contractions · average interval 5:00 · average length 1:00 · 5-1-1 reached
About every 7:00 on average (target 5:00 or less) · lasting 45 s on average (target 1:00 or more) · not reached yet
Common uses
- Early labour at home: seeing whether contractions are becoming regular and closer together.
- Giving your midwife or the hospital triage line exact numbers when you call.
- A birth partner keeping track so the person in labour can focus on breathing.
Call your maternity unit, midwife or doctor now if
- your waters break (a gush or a trickle of fluid) — especially if the fluid is green or brown, blood-stained or smells unpleasant
- you have vaginal bleeding
- your baby is moving less than usual
- you have constant, severe pain with no relief between contractions
- you have regular contractions before 37 weeks — this may be preterm labour and needs attention right away
- you think you are in labour, or you are not sure
In an emergency, call your local emergency number. These signs come from the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) patient guidance and the NICE guideline on intrapartum care.
Real labour or Braxton Hicks?
From ACOG’s guidance:
- True labour contractions come at regular intervals and get closer together; each lasts about 60 to 90 seconds; they continue when you rest or move and steadily get stronger; the pain often starts in the back and moves to the front.
- False labour (Braxton Hicks) contractions have no pattern and do not get closer together; they may stop when you walk, rest or change position; they stay weak or fade; the pain is usually only in the front.
Time your contractions and notice whether they continue when you rest and drink water — if rest and drinking make them go away, they are not labour contractions. Sometimes only an examination of the cervix can tell.
What 5-1-1 means
5-1-1 is a common rule of thumb for when to call: contractions about every 5 minutes, each lasting about 1 minute, for at least 1 hour. ACOG advises agreeing with your team, well before your due date, when to call and whether to call first or go straight in. Follow what your maternity team told you: the timer also offers 4-1-1 and 3-1-1, and your own pattern.
The timer treats the pattern as reached when, over the last hour of your log (counted back from the end of the latest contraction), contractions started on average every 5 minutes or less and lasted on average 60 seconds or more, and the log covers that hour. If no contraction comes for more than two intervals, the highlight goes off.
How the timer measures
- Length: from when you press Start to when you press Stop.
- Interval (frequency): from the start of one contraction to the start of the next — the number to tell your midwife ("every 5 minutes").
- Rest: from the end of one to the start of the next.
- Last hour: contractions that started in the past 60 minutes.
Times come from your device’s clock, so the timer keeps counting correctly in the background and after a reload. The log is kept in this browser until you clear it.
Sources
- American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, How to tell when labor begins and Preterm labor and birth
- National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, Intrapartum care (NG235) — the latent and established stages of labour, and when waters break
Limitations
- The timer measures what you tap; it cannot tell whether you are in labour. Labour is confirmed by a midwife or doctor (established labour means regular contractions with the cervix opening from 4 cm).
- The pattern alert is a reminder, not medical advice. Call earlier if your team told you to, or if any warning sign appears.
- Keeping the screen on works only in browsers that support it, and uses more battery. If the screen locks, the timer still counts correctly.
- The log stays in this browser only: clearing your browser data deletes it. Download a CSV to keep a copy.
Privacy
The contraction log is stored only in this browser on your device (so it survives a reload) and is never uploaded. Clear log removes it.
Frequently asked questions
How do I time contractions correctly?
Tap Start the moment you feel a contraction begin and Stop when it fully fades. The interval is counted from the start of one contraction to the start of the next — that is what “contractions are 5 minutes apart” means.
When should I go to the hospital?
When your maternity team told you to — often when contractions are regular, strong and close together, such as 5-1-1 — and straight away if your waters break, you bleed, your baby moves less, the pain is constant and severe, or you are less than 37 weeks pregnant with regular contractions. If you are unsure, call.
My contractions are irregular. Is that labour?
Early labour often starts irregular and settles into a pattern. Braxton Hicks contractions stay irregular and may stop with rest, a drink or a change of position. Keep timing; if they become regular, stronger and closer together, it is more likely to be labour.
Will the timer keep running if my screen locks or I switch apps?
Yes. The timer stores the time each contraction started, so when you come back the length is still right. Tick Keep screen on so you can see it without unlocking, where your browser supports it.
Is my contraction log private?
Yes. It is stored only in this browser on your device and never sent anywhere. Use Clear log to remove it.