No matter how far apart contractions are, head to hospital or ring your midwife at once if your waters break, you bleed, baby moves less, pain is severe and constant, or you are under 37 weeks.
Timing contractions correctly
Duration: measured from when a contraction begins until it fades.
Spacing (frequency): the gap between one contraction starting and the next one starting.
Press the large button as a contraction begins and press it again as it ends. The timer calculates your averages over the past hour automatically.
Is it time to go in?
For first babies, many hospitals use the 5-1-1 rule: contractions roughly 5 minutes apart, each about 1 minute long, continuing for at least 1 hour. If this is not your first baby, or the hospital is a long way off, you may be advised to leave earlier — your own doctor’s or midwife’s instructions come first.
Stage
Contractions
Suggested action
Early labour
5–20 minutes apart, 30–45 seconds
Rest, have light snacks and water, stay home if everything is fine
Active labour
3–5 minutes apart, 45–60 seconds
Time to go in / call your midwife
Transition
2–3 minutes apart, 60–90 seconds
Ideally you are already at hospital
Practice contractions vs labour
Braxton Hicks: come and go irregularly, do not move closer together, and often settle with walking or rest.
True labour: settle into a pattern, grow stronger and more frequent, and carry on even when you rest.
Do not wait for the timings — go in at once if your waters break, you notice bleeding, your baby is moving less, the pain is severe and constant, or you are under 37 weeks.
Common questions
What spacing usually means it is time to leave for hospital?
If this is your first baby, the usual signal is contractions about 5 minutes apart and a minute long, kept up for an hour. Your hospital’s own advice may differ.
How many hours can early labour go on?
With a first baby it may take many hours and occasionally longer than a day. Second and later labours are often faster.
Will I lose my timings if the page reloads?
No. Contractions are kept in this browser only, so the list stays put when you refresh.
How do I know if these are Braxton Hicks?
Braxton Hicks stay irregular and often ease with rest or a change of position; labour contractions become regular and keep building.
Checked against the sources listed above. This is general health information and not medical advice — please ask your doctor or a registered dietitian what suits you.