Contraction Timer & 5-1-1 Labor Tracker
Start the timer as a contraction begins and stop as it eases, and the tool tracks each one's length and start-to-start spacing so you can spot the 5-1-1 pattern.
Quick samples
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What the timer is doing
Press “Start” when a contraction begins and “End” when it finishes. Your average duration and spacing build up as you log them.
Timings are approximate and a guide to when to call — not a diagnosis. Every labour is different and every provider's advice is different, so always follow your own midwife or doctor's instructions over any pattern shown here.
The formula
Duration = end − start · Frequency = start of one contraction to the start of the next · 5-1-1 = about 5 minutes apart, about 1 minute long, sustained about 1 hour
- Duration — How long a single contraction lasts, from when it begins to when it eases.
- Frequency — The time from the start of one contraction to the start of the next, counted start to start.
- 5-1-1 — A common guideline: contractions five minutes apart, one minute long, holding for one hour.
- Average — The mean of your logged contractions, which smooths out the natural variation between one and the next.
What the numbers describe
| Number | What it means | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Duration | How long each contraction lasts | Longer contractions usually mean more established labour |
| Frequency | Start of one to start of the next | Closer together means the womb is working more often |
| Pattern over 1 hour | Whether spacing and duration hold | A steady trend matters more than any single reading |
| 5-1-1 | 5 min apart, 1 min long, for 1 hour | A common guideline for when to call or go in |
5-1-1 is a widely taught guideline, not a universal rule. Follow the specific threshold and advice your own provider has given you.
A contraction timer turns the rough question of 'is this labour?' into something you can actually watch. Press start as a contraction begins and stop as it eases, and it logs how long that contraction lasted and how far apart they are arriving, measured start to start.
As you keep logging, an average duration and an average spacing build up, so you can see whether contractions are settling into a pattern or still wandering about. That pattern, rather than any single contraction, is what matters.
The tool watches for the well-known 5-1-1 idea: contractions about five minutes apart, each lasting about a minute, holding steady for about an hour. It is a common prompt to call your midwife or provider, never a rule you must wait out.
Used well, a timer takes the guesswork out of a confusing, exhausting stage. Instead of straining to remember whether the last one was closer than the one before, you get a running set of averages you can act on and read straight to whoever is looking after you.
How to time a contraction
A contraction has three numbers worth knowing: how long it lasts, when it starts, and when the next one begins. As soon as you feel a tightening, press start, and let it run until the tightening eases, then press end.
Spacing is counted from the start of one contraction to the start of the next, not from the end of one to the start of another. That start-to-start figure is what your provider will ask for, and it is what this timer reports as the average.
No single reading means much on its own. Early contractions are irregular, so watch the direction across several: are they getting closer together, lasting longer, and stronger in a way that keeps you from talking through them?
What the 5-1-1 rule means
The five-one-one guideline is a simple way to decide when labour sounds established enough to call. The first number is spacing, about five minutes apart measured start to start. The second is duration, each contraction lasting about one minute. The third is how long that pattern has held, about one hour.
It is a rule of thumb, not a finish line. Providers set different thresholds, and some ask you to come in sooner, especially for a second and later baby, where labour can move quickly once it is established.
The timer flags the pattern for you and says plainly whether it is there yet. When it does, the sensible next step is to ring your midwife, labour ward or doctor rather than simply waiting for the next contraction.
It is worth remembering that the 5-1-1 pattern describes established labour, not its very start. Many parents spend hours of contractions well short of it, and that is normal. The timer is just as useful during that long build-up, quietly showing whether things are heading towards the threshold or simply plateauing.
A worked example
Early in the evening contractions arrive a little over ten minutes apart and last roughly forty seconds. The read-out says keep timing, so you rest, eat something and stay comfortable at home.
Two hours later they are about six minutes apart and lasting fifty seconds. The trend is clear — closer, longer and stronger — and the average moves with it, which is exactly the shift the 5-1-1 idea is meant to catch.
Soon they hold near five minutes apart, about a minute each, for an hour. The timer marks the pattern as met, and the practical step now is to make the call your provider asked for rather than to time one more contraction.
Getting the most from the timer
Start timing at your very first contraction, not hours later, so the average reflects the whole picture. It is easy to under-report early labour because the first contractions are mild and you are unsure whether they count.
Use the average rather than any one contraction, because spacing naturally varies from minute to minute. The number you quote down the phone is a trend over many contractions, so a single short or long gap need not alarm you.
Keep your phone or a notebook to hand in the room, and log a contraction even if you are asleep. The pattern over an hour or two is far more useful to your provider than a handful of entries.
- Time from the very start of a tightening, not from its peak.
- Quote the start-to-start average when you ring your provider.
- Do not wait for 5-1-1 if your instincts or your provider's advice say otherwise.
Red flags that override any timer
Some signs mean you should contact your provider or maternity unit straight away, whatever the spacing says. Reduced or changed baby movement, vaginal bleeding, or a gush or trickle of fluid are all reasons to call now rather than keep timing.
Contractions before thirty-seven weeks may signal early labour and should be checked, and severe constant pain between contractions, a fever, or a bad headache with vision changes all warrant immediate advice rather than waiting for a pattern.
A timer is a way to describe what you are feeling, not a triage tool. It can reassure you that things are progressing, but it can never rule out a problem.
When in doubt, ring out. Maternity units would far rather take a call that turns out to be early or false labour than hear about a real concern hours later.
Equally, do not be embarrassed to call about a pattern that does not fit the rule. Contractions that stop or fade after an hour of strong activity, or a sudden change in how baby moves, deserve a conversation even when the timer has not reached 5-1-1.
Key terms
- Duration
- How long a single contraction lasts, from its start to when it eases.
- Frequency
- The spacing of contractions, measured from the start of one to the start of the next.
- 5-1-1
- A common guideline: contractions five minutes apart, one minute long, sustained for one hour.
- Latent versus active labour
- The early, slower phase before contractions settle into a regular, closer pattern.
Pro tips
- Start timing at the first tightening so your average reflects the whole labour.
- Count spacing start to start — that is the number your provider wants.
- Call on your provider's advice even if 5-1-1 has not been reached.
- Log contractions overnight; a two-hour trend is far more useful than a few entries.
Common mistakes
- Measuring from the end of a contraction rather than start to start.
- Reacting to one long or short contraction instead of the average over several.
- Waiting out a genuine red flag because the timer has not reached 5-1-1 yet.
Contraction timing — your questions
What is the 5-1-1 rule in labour?
It is a common guideline for when to call your provider or head to your birth setting. The numbers mean contractions about five minutes apart, each lasting about one minute, holding that pattern for about one hour. It is a rule of thumb rather than a strict threshold, and your midwife or doctor may give you a different one, so always follow their specific advice over a general pattern. The timer will show when it is met, but it never replaces your provider's judgement or your own.
How do I measure the spacing between contractions?
Count from the start of one contraction to the start of the next, not from the end of one to the beginning of the next. That start-to-start figure is what your provider means by frequency. This timer does it for you and shows an average, because spacing varies from contraction to contraction and it is the overall pattern over an hour or two that really matters.
Should I wait until I hit 5-1-1 before calling?
Not always. The 5-1-1 pattern is a guide for a straightforward labour, but you should call sooner if your waters break, there is bleeding, baby's movements change, the pain is severe between contractions, or you are feeling worried. First-time labours often take longer, while a second baby can progress quickly, so trust your provider's advice and your own instincts over any timer.
Can I use this timer for early labour?
Yes, and that is often when it helps most. Early, or latent, labour is irregular, so logging several contractions shows whether they are settling into a pattern or just practice. A run of contractions that stay far apart and short usually means it is early, while one where they steadily draw closer and lengthen suggests you are moving towards established labour. Seeing the averages move over hours can settle the question in a way that guessing at a single tightening never quite does.
Does it work differently for a second baby?
For a second or later baby, labour can be faster once it is established, so many providers advise you to call earlier rather than waiting for the full five minutes apart. The timer itself works exactly the same way, but the point at which you ring will often be sooner. Use the threshold your own provider has given you, because the regularity and strength of contractions matter as much as the raw spacing here.
When should I not wait for any pattern at all?
Contact your provider or maternity unit straight away for reduced or changed baby movements, vaginal bleeding, a gush or trickle of fluid, severe constant pain, a fever, or contractions before thirty-seven weeks. These do not need a timer to confirm them, and you should not wait for a pattern. When in doubt it is always right to call and describe what you are feeling.