Press start when a contraction begins and end when it fades. The timer records each duration, works out the gap between contractions, and shows the last hour at a glance — so you can describe the pattern to your midwife.
Last updated:
Contraction timer
Ready
00:00
Press start when a contraction begins.
In the last hour
0
Average duration
—
Average interval
—
Total recorded
0
When to call. If contractions come about every 5 minutes, last about 1 minute each and have continued for 1 hour (the 5-1-1 pattern), contact your maternity unit. Before 37 weeks, call straight away for regular contractions, bleeding or fluid leaking — do not wait for 5-1-1.
Contraction log
Each recorded contraction with its start time, duration and the interval from the previous contraction
#
Start
Duration
Interval
Records are saved in this browser only. Nothing is uploaded.
This is information only. It cannot replace an assessment by your midwife, doctor or hospital.
How this contraction timer works
The timer records the clock time at the moment you press each button. Everything else is arithmetic on those two timestamps.
Duration = end time − start time
Interval = start of this contraction − start of the previous contraction
Last hour = contractions whose start falls within the previous 60 minutes
Average duration = total duration ÷ number of completed contractions in that hour
Average interval = total gap ÷ number of gaps between those contractions
Interval is measured from start to start. That is the convention maternity units use, and it is not the same as the rest between contractions.
The last-hour summary moves with the clock. Counts and averages only include contractions that started in the previous 60 minutes, so an old record does not make the pattern look stronger than it is.
The clock refreshes once a second while a contraction is in progress and stops when you end it, so the page is not running a timer in the background.
Records live in your browser. They survive a refresh on the same device, and they are never sent anywhere. Clearing site data removes them.
The 5-1-1 pattern and when to call
The 5-1-1 pattern means contractions about every 5 minutes, each lasting about 1 minute, continuing for 1 hour. It is the rule many maternity units teach as the point to call. ACOG patient guidance and NHS guidance on the signs that labour has begun both describe regular contractions that become stronger, longer and closer together as the signal to contact your maternity service; 5-1-1 is the shorthand most units use for that advice.
Your unit may use a different number — 4-1-1, or an earlier call for a second baby. Follow the instructions you were given rather than a general rule from a website.
Before 37 weeks
If you are less than 37 weeks pregnant and have regular contractions, bleeding or fluid leaking, contact your maternity unit straight away. Do not wait for a 5-1-1 pattern, and do not use this page to decide whether the contractions are labour.
This is a recording tool, not an assessment. It cannot tell true labour from Braxton Hicks contractions, it cannot measure how your cervix is changing, and it cannot check on your baby. Only a clinician can do those things.
Stop timing and contact your maternity unit or emergency service immediately if you have:
Reduced or changed fetal movement.
Any vaginal bleeding.
Fluid leaking or a gush of fluid.
Severe or constant abdominal pain, or pain that does not ease between contractions.
Any symptom that frightens you.
Not medical advice. Early Pregnancy Tools is an educational timer. It does not diagnose labour, does not assess your baby and does not decide when you should go to hospital. Always follow the advice of your midwife, doctor or maternity unit.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as a contraction?
A contraction is a tightening of the uterus that builds, peaks and then fades. This timer measures from the moment you press start to the moment you press end, so it records the pattern you feel rather than what a monitor would measure.
What is the 5-1-1 rule?
The 5-1-1 pattern means contractions about every 5 minutes, each lasting about 1 minute, continuing for 1 hour. It is the rule many maternity units teach as the point to call. ACOG patient guidance and NHS guidance on the signs that labour has begun both describe regular contractions that become stronger, longer and closer together as the signal to contact your maternity service. Your unit may use a different number, so follow the instructions you were given.
Does this timer tell me whether I am in labour?
No. It records timing only. It cannot tell true labour from Braxton Hicks contractions, and it cannot assess your cervix or your baby. Those judgements need a clinician, which is why the page never labels a pattern as labour.
Where are my contraction records stored?
In your browser's local storage on this device. Nothing is uploaded to a server. Clearing your browser data, using a different browser or using private browsing may remove the records, so note down anything you want to show your midwife.
Sources and disclaimer
Sources used for the timing guidance and the warning signs on this page:
This page is informational only and is not a medical device. It does not create a clinician–patient relationship and must not be used to make medical decisions. If you are unsure whether to call, call — maternity units expect the question.
Your records stay in this browser tab and in its local storage. Nothing is uploaded, stored on a server or shared.