Free Tools
Contraction Timer
Tap when each contraction starts and stops. Watch for the 5-1-1 rule and know when it's time to head in.
Want this in your pocket? Get the iOS app:
How this works
Tap the big button the moment a contraction starts. Tap it again when the contraction ends. The timer records the start, end, duration, and the time since the previous contraction started — that's the standard clinical convention for tracking labor.
As you log contractions, average interval and duration update across your last 5 contractions. These are the numbers your provider will ask for if you call: 'How far apart, and how long are they lasting?'
When your contractions are averaging about 5 minutes apart, about 1 minute long, and have been doing that for at least an hour — the 5-1-1 rule — you'll see a red banner suggesting you call your provider. This is the typical threshold most US hospitals use for labor admission, but call your provider before leaving regardless.
Your log is saved in this browser so you can leave the page and come back. The reset button at the bottom of the log clears everything.
The math behind it
Interval is measured start-to-start: the time from when one contraction begins to when the next begins. Duration is the length of each contraction. We compute rolling averages across the last 5 contractions to smooth out any inconsistent pacing while still being responsive to changes.
The 5-1-1 alert triggers when, looking at the last hour of contractions, the average interval is between 4 and 6 minutes AND the average duration is between 45 and 90 seconds AND there have been at least 6 contractions in that hour. The window is slightly wider than '5 minutes / 1 minute exactly' to account for natural variation — labor is biological, not metronomic.
Some hospitals use 4-1-1 or 3-1-1 instead of 5-1-1. If you're a first-time mom, 5-1-1 is usually safe; if you've had a previous fast labor, your provider may tell you to come in at 6 or 7 minutes apart. Always follow your provider's specific guidance over this app's default.
Braxton Hicks contractions (false labor) tend to be irregular, painless or mildly uncomfortable, and don't progress — interval and duration stay erratic instead of getting shorter and longer respectively. Real labor contractions progress.
Frequently asked questions
5-1-1 means contractions that are 5 minutes apart, last 1 minute each, and have been doing that consistently for 1 hour. This is a common labor-admission threshold for first-time mothers. Your provider may use a different rule (4-1-1 or 3-1-1) — follow their guidance.
Call your provider first. They'll consider your contraction pattern plus other factors (this isn't your first baby, your labor history, distance to hospital, water broken, bleeding, baby's movement). Don't go straight to the hospital based on the timer alone unless instructed.
Braxton Hicks contractions are usually: irregular, painless or only mildly uncomfortable, don't get closer together over time, ease when you change position, and don't progress. Real labor contractions get closer together, longer, and stronger — and don't stop when you move around.
Always start-to-start, which is what this timer tracks. That's the clinical convention. End-to-start is shorter and would give you a misleadingly close interval.
Call your provider. Painful, regular contractions even at 7-8 minutes apart can mean active labor is approaching fast, especially if it's not your first baby. The 5-1-1 rule is a default, not the only signal.
Just tap it whenever you remember and it'll log a long contraction. The averages adjust to your most recent 5 contractions, so one outlier washes out quickly. If it's obviously wrong, hit reset and start fresh.
Yes — once the page is loaded, the timer runs entirely in your browser. No network calls. Your log is in localStorage, which persists across reloads. The ProbaBaby app is similarly offline-first.