⏱️ Labour Contraction Timer
Track contractions. 5-1-1 rule hospital alert
When to go to the hospital
5-1-1 rule: Contractions are 5 minutes apart, last 1 minute each, and have continued this way for 1 hour. This is when most doctors recommend heading to the hospital.
This timer is a guide only. If you feel something is wrong, call your doctor immediately or go to the hospital.
How to use this tool
Designed for active labour. Ideally used by your partner while you breathe through contractions.
- 1Tap Start when a contraction begins
The moment you feel tightening, tap Start. The timer counts the contraction duration.
- 2Tap Stop when the contraction ends
When the tightening relaxes, tap Stop. Duration is recorded.
- 3Wait between contractions
The timer automatically measures the gap between contractions.
- 4Watch for the 5-1-1 hospital alert
Contractions 5 min apart, 1 min long, for 1 hour. The tool shows a red alert to go to hospital.
During active labour, operating a phone is difficult. Show this to your partner before labour. They tap Start/Stop while you breathe.
Waters break. Heavy bleeding. Baby stops moving. You feel something is seriously wrong. Even if contractions are not yet 5-1-1.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the 5-1-1 rule?
My contractions are irregular. Is that normal?
How is frequency different from interval?
Does the timer save my history?
How labor contraction tracking care actually works in Australia
Australian pediatric care runs through a mixed public-private system. Medicare covers GP visits and public ED visits. Many families also have private health insurance for faster specialist access. Your first call for after hours fever or illness is typically Healthdirect on 1800 022 222. Free, 24/7 nurse line. The Maternal and Child Health Nurse system is one of the best in the world. Free and accessible. Royal Childrens Hospital Melbourne, Westmead in Sydney, Queensland Childrens, Perth Childrens. These are the specialty ED centres for serious cases. For rural and remote families, telehealth through 13Health in Queensland or HealthDirect federally is critical. Royal Flying Doctor Service covers the genuinely remote stuff.
In Australia, call Healthdirect on 1800 022 222 for free 24/7 health advice. For emergencies, call 000. Maternal and Child Health Nurses (free service in most states) can also help during business hours. Your GP is your first point of contact for ongoing concerns. The Tresillian Parent Helpline (1300 272 736) also handles concerns about babies.
What Australian mums actually deal with
Aussie mums tend to be pragmatic about baby illness. Cultural default leans toward "she will be right." Combined with reasonable access to nurses and GPs, this generally works. The Maternal and Child Health Nurse system is a treasure of the Australian health system. Use it without hesitation. Telehealth normalised during COVID and stayed normalised, which is genuinely useful. The unique Aussie concerns are bushfire smoke season and extreme summer heat. Babies are more vulnerable to air quality than adults. Sun and heat exposure can cause apparent fever via overheating. Always check core temperature properly (rectal or under-arm thermometer), not just the forehead, especially in summer.