⏱️ 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 the United Kingdom
UK pediatric care runs through the NHS. Generally well organised. Can feel slow at peak times. Your first call is usually NHS 111. Free, 24/7. They triage what is going on and tell you what level of care to seek. Sometimes a GP appointment via e-Consult. Sometimes A and E. Occasionally an ambulance. Out of hours GP services run evenings and weekends. Walk in centres and Urgent Treatment Centres handle the mid range stuff. A and E is for genuine emergencies, not routine fever queries, where you can wait many hours. For babies under 3 months though, A and E is the right call regardless. The NHS Pharmacy First service can also handle minor childhood things now without a GP appointment.
In the UK, call NHS 111 for non-emergency advice 24/7. For emergencies, call 999. Many GP practices have an after hours triage line. Your Health Visitor is also a valuable resource for baby questions during weekday hours. Pharmacies like Boots offer free advice from pharmacists for non-emergency concerns through the Pharmacy First service.
What British mums actually deal with
British mums often feel pressure to wait it out before bothering the NHS. This is wrong thinking. NHS 111 was designed for exactly these calls. Staff are trained to triage and there is genuinely no judgment for calling. Health Visitors are an underused resource. They expect to hear about concerns in young babies. They can advise on what is normal during teething (mild temperature elevation, yes). True fever above 38 Celsius is something else and worth a proper assessment. British medical practice runs more conservative on medication than American practice. Calpol is the workhorse. Talk to your GP or pharmacist before alternating with Nurofen, NICE specifically does not recommend routine alternating.