Contraction Timer Calculator
Labor verdict from minutes apart and seconds long.
What it does
Contraction timing reduces labor to two numbers: minutes between starts and seconds each lasts. The 5-1-1 rule (five apart, one minute long, for one hour) marks the classic head in threshold for first labors.
The tool above takes both numbers. It returns the hourly rate with the verdict and the next step beside them.
The default 4 minutes at 60 seconds runs 15 an hour in the call now zone. Twelve minutes at 30 seconds reads likely practice: walk, bathe, and re-time in an hour.
Thresholds follow American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists labor guidance with March of Dimes timing references matching the 5-1-1 rule. Both stress provider plans and warning signs over any single reading.
How to use
- Time three contractions start to start.
- Average the gaps for minutes apart.
- Average the lengths in seconds.
- Read verdict first for the zone.
- Follow your birth plan over the page.
Formula
- 5-1-1
- Five apart, minute long, one hour.
- 45 s
- Effective length floor for call zone.
- /hr
- Hourly rate from the gap.
One reading never proves labor; trends across an hour do. Second and later labors move faster, so providers often set earlier call lines.
Worked example
Example: every 4 min, 60 s
Defaults: 4 minutes apart, 60 seconds long.
- Hourly: 60 / 4 = 15 per hour.
- Gap 4 sits at or below 5.
- Length 60 sits above 45.
- Verdict: call now zone with bag advice.
- Tool shows every 4 min (15/hr), call now.
Reference table
| Pattern | Verdict | Action |
|---|---|---|
| 12+ min apart | Likely practice | Rest, re-time later |
| 6-10 min apart | Early labor | Keep timing changes |
| 5 min, 60 s, 1 hr | Call now | Head in per plan |
| Water/bleeding | Go now | Numbers irrelevant |
Limits
- Screening zones, never medical orders.
- Provider plans override every verdict.
- Second labors progress faster than shown.
- Preterm timing needs earlier calls.
Common mistakes
- Timing one contraction instead of trends.
- Measuring peak to end instead of start to start.
- Waiting out water breaking for 5-1-1.
- Driving yourself while timing.
- Ignoring provider specific earlier lines.
Try it yourself
Quick checks. Answers sit tucked under each question.
12 min apart, 30 s?
5/hr: likely practice, re-time later.
8 min apart, 45 s?
7.5/hr: early labor, keep timing.
Per hour at 4 min?
60 / 4 = 15 contractions.
Questions
What is 5-1-1?
Contractions 5 min apart, 1 min long, for 1 hour: classic head in signal.
When should I call?
At 5-1-1 for first labors (earlier per plan), immediately for water or bleeding.
How do I time?
Start to start in minutes with lengths in seconds, averaged over several.
Practice vs real?
Practice stays irregular and eases with rest; real builds steadily.
Second baby different?
Often faster: call earlier than 5-1-1 per provider.
Preterm contractions?
Call promptly regardless of pattern; thresholds differ.