How to time contractions
Short answer
Write down the time each contraction starts and ends. How long it lasts is start to end. How far apart they are is measured from the start of one contraction to the start of the next. Time several in a row, then look at the pattern over the last hour. If you are unsure at any point, call your midwife or maternity unit.
Step by step
You need:
- A clock or phone that shows seconds
- Paper and pen, or a contraction timer app
- Your midwife's or maternity unit's phone number
- Note when the contraction starts. As soon as you feel the tightening begin, write down the time or tap start on a timer. Use a clock that shows seconds.
- Note when it ends. When the tightening fades, write down the end time. The time between start and end is how long the contraction lasted, usually counted in seconds.
- Measure from start to start. How far apart contractions are is counted from the start of one to the start of the next, not from the end of one to the start of the next. This is the most common timing mistake.
- Time several in a row. One or two contractions tell you little. Keep timing for about an hour so you can see whether they are regular, getting longer, stronger and closer together.
- Look at the last hour. Work out the average length and the average gap over the last hour. A common rule of thumb is the 5-1-1 rule: about 5 minutes apart, lasting about 1 minute, for 1 hour.
- Call when the pattern or your instinct says so. Call your midwife or maternity unit when your timings reach the point they gave you, or whenever you are unsure. Have your notes ready, because they will ask for these numbers.
This is not medical advice
This guide explains how timing works. It cannot tell you whether you are in labour or when you must leave. Follow the instructions your midwife or doctor gave you, which may differ from the general guide below, for example if this is not your first baby, you live far from the hospital, or your pregnancy has special care needs.
If you are unsure or worried about anything, call your midwife or maternity unit, day or night. If you think the baby is coming now, call your local emergency number.
Call right away, whatever the timing
The NHS lists signs to call your midwife or maternity unit about immediately, without waiting for a pattern:
- Your waters break
- You have vaginal bleeding
- Your baby is moving less than usual
- You are less than 37 weeks pregnant and think you may be in labour
- A contraction lasts longer than 2 minutes
- You have 6 or more contractions in 10 minutes
A worked example
Say three contractions start at 9:00:00, 9:05:30 and 9:10:30, and each lasts 55 to 65 seconds. The gaps are 5 minutes 30 seconds and 5 minutes, measured start to start, and the length is about a minute.
If the gap had been counted from the end of each contraction instead, it would look a full minute shorter than it really is. That is why start-to-start matters when you compare your notes with what your midwife told you.
Over a full hour, add up the gaps and divide by how many there are to get the average gap, and do the same for the lengths. Averages smooth out one short or one long contraction, which is why they are more useful than any single reading.
Practice contractions or real labour?
Practice contractions, often called Braxton Hicks, tend to come at uneven times, do not get closer together and often ease when you change position, walk or rest. Labour contractions usually become regular and come closer together, last longer and feel stronger over time.
Timing helps you see the difference, because a pattern shows up on paper even when it is hard to judge in the moment. Still, only your midwife or doctor can confirm labour, so call if you are not sure.
Tips for timing at home
Labour can start at night and last a long time, so keep timing simple.
- Let your partner keep the notes while you focus on breathing.
- Write down anything else that changes, such as a show, back pain or leaking fluid.
- Do not time every contraction for hours in early labour if they are far apart. Rest, and time again when they change.
- Keep your phone charged and the maternity unit's number saved.
Questions people ask
Do you time contractions from start to start or end to start?
From the start of one contraction to the start of the next. That number includes the contraction itself and the rest after it.
What is the 5-1-1 rule?
A common rule of thumb, often given for a first labour: contractions about 5 minutes apart, each lasting about 1 minute, for at least 1 hour. Your midwife may give you different numbers, so follow theirs.
How long should contractions last?
In early labour they are often shorter and irregular. As labour moves on they usually last around a minute. The NHS advises calling right away if one lasts longer than 2 minutes.
When should I go to the hospital?
When your midwife or maternity unit tells you to. Call them when your contractions reach the pattern they gave you, or straight away if your waters break, you bleed, or your baby moves less than usual.
Can I time contractions without an app?
Yes. A clock with seconds and a notepad work fine. Write the start and end time of each one and work out the gaps from start to start.
