Contractions: how to time them and when to go in
Updated October 13, 2026 · sources checked October 13, 2026
In short
Time contractions from the start of one to the start of the next, and note how long each lasts. In early labor they come every 5 to 15 minutes; in active labor they get stronger and closer, down to about 3 minutes apart. The NHS says to call your midwife when they come every 5 minutes or more often; many US providers use a similar 5-1-1 pattern.
Time your contractions here
Press start when a contraction begins and stop when it ends. The timer works out the interval and duration for you and keeps everything on your phone: nothing is sent anywhere.
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Tap the button when a contraction starts, and again when it ends.
Many hospitals ask you to come in when contractions are about 5 minutes apart, last about 1 minute, for about an hour (the “5-1-1” guide, Cleveland Clinic). The NHS says to contact your maternity unit when contractions are regular and every 5 minutes or more often. Your own team’s instructions come first.
Whatever the timing, go to the hospital or call now if your water has broken, you are bleeding heavily, the pain is constant and severe, or your baby is moving less (ACOG).
How to time contractions by hand
- Note the time a contraction starts.
- Note the time it ends: that is its duration.
- Note when the next one starts. The time from the start of one to the start of the next is the interval, as the March of Dimes explains.
- Do this for at least an hour before drawing conclusions, and notice whether they continue when you rest, drink water or move around.
How contractions change through labor
| Phase | Interval | Duration | How it feels | Where you are |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early (latent) labor | Every 5 to 15 minutes | 60 to 90 seconds | Mild, like period pains; you can talk through them | Usually at home |
| Active labor | As close as 3 minutes apart | About 45 seconds, getting stronger and longer | Strong enough that you cannot walk or talk during them | Time to head in |
| Transition | Closer together | 60 to 90 seconds | The most intense part; pressure in the lower back and rectum, an urge to bear down | In hospital or birth centre |
| Pushing (second stage) | Every 2 to 5 minutes | 60 to 90 seconds | An urge to push | Birth |
Source: March of Dimes, stages of labor. For first-time mothers, early labor lasts about 6 to 12 hours; active labor usually lasts about 4 to 8 hours.
When to call or go in
There is no single universal rule, so agree yours with your midwife or OB before your due date. The thresholds used by official sources:
| Source | Call your midwife or provider when |
|---|---|
| NHS (UK) | Regular contractions every 5 minutes or more often, or you think you are in labor |
| MedlinePlus (US) | Regular, painful contractions every 5 to 10 minutes for 60 minutes, or contractions lasting 60 to 90 seconds |
| March of Dimes (US) | Whenever you think you are in labor, day or night: your provider tells you when to head in |
Many US providers also hand out the 5-1-1 pattern: contractions about 5 minutes apart, lasting about 1 minute, for 1 hour. Our timer flags it as a reminder to call, not as a diagnosis.
Why not go in at the first contraction?
Early labor can last hours or days, and both the NHS and ACOG say it can usually be spent at home when you and your baby are well. In a US study of nearly 9,000 women, those admitted in the latent phase had more cesarean births and more interventions than those admitted in active labor; the authors could not tell whether early admission caused this (Bailit et al., 2005). If you are anxious or in pain, call anyway: support is always the right answer.
Is this normal? When to call
Irregular, mild contractions that fade when you rest are normal, and so is being sent home in early labor. Call straight away, whatever the timer says, if:
- Your waters break, or the fluid is coloured or smelly
- Vaginal bleeding beyond a pink-streaked show
- Your baby is moving less than usual
- You are less than 37 weeks pregnant
- A contraction lasts longer than 2 minutes, or 6 or more come in 10 minutes
- Constant, severe pain with no break between contractions
If you feel a strong urge to push and think your baby is coming now, call 911 (US) or 999 (UK). In the UK, call NHS 111 if you cannot reach your maternity unit.
For your partner or birth partner
- Run the timer so she does not have to: press start and stop, read out the pattern.
- Call the maternity unit when the agreed threshold is reached, or as soon as one of the urgent signs above appears.
- If the baby seems to be coming now, do not set off: call 911 (US) or 999 (UK).
- Between contractions, offer water and a snack; during them, firm pressure on the lower back.
Coping with contractions
Between contractions, rest completely. During them, try slow breathing, rocking, leaning forward on a birth ball or the back of a chair, a warm bath, or firm pressure on your lower back from your partner. Our guide to labor positions shows what to try at each stage, and the epidural guide explains the medical options.
Questions parents ask
What is the 5-1-1 rule for contractions?
It is a rule of thumb used by many US providers - contractions about 5 minutes apart, each lasting about 1 minute, for 1 hour. It is close to the MedlinePlus threshold of regular, painful contractions every 5 to 10 minutes for 60 minutes. Always follow the rule your own provider gives you.
How do you measure the time between contractions?
From the start of one contraction to the start of the next, as the March of Dimes explains. The length of a contraction is measured from its start to its end.
When are contractions too close together?
The NHS asks you to call your maternity unit urgently if any contraction lasts longer than 2 minutes or you have 6 or more contractions every 10 minutes.
Do I go in earlier for a second baby?
Often, yes, because labor can be quicker. NHS figures put established labor at about 8 to 18 hours for a first baby and around 5 to 12 hours in a second or third pregnancy. Ask your midwife or OB what threshold they want you to use.
Sources
- March of Dimes — Contractions and signs of labor checked October 13, 2026
- March of Dimes — Stages of labor checked October 13, 2026
- NHS — Signs that labour has begun checked October 13, 2026
- MedlinePlus — Am I in labor? checked October 13, 2026
- Bailit JL et al. Outcomes of women presenting in active versus latent phase of spontaneous labor. Obstet Gynecol 2005 (PMID 15625145, DOI 10.1097/01.AOG.0000147843.12196.00) checked October 13, 2026
Mamavela explains; it does not replace your midwife, doctor or pediatrician, who know your situation. If something worries you, call them. In an emergency, call 911 (US), 999 (UK) or 112.