Assess your contraction pattern against the 5-1-1 rule using your own tracked duration and frequency (manual number inputs, not a live timer)
This calculator is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always contact your midwife or maternity unit if you are concerned about your contractions or labour progress.
As you approach the end of your pregnancy, understanding your contraction pattern is crucial for knowing when to contact your maternity unit and head to hospital. Contractions are the tightening and releasing of the uterine muscles that help your cervix dilate and eventually push your baby out. Not all contractions mean you are in labour -- Braxton Hicks contractions (practice contractions) are common in the third trimester and are usually irregular, short, and painless. The most widely-used guideline for determining when to go to hospital is the 5-1-1 rule: contractions coming every 5 minutes, lasting 1 minute each, sustained for at least 1 hour. When this pattern is established, it typically indicates active labour. Some hospitals use a 4-1-1 rule (every 4 minutes) for first-time mothers. The NHS advises contacting your maternity unit when your contractions are regular, strong, and coming every 5 minutes or less. This calculator is designed to help you assess your contraction pattern using numbers you have already tracked. It is not a live timer or stopwatch -- instead, you enter the average duration and frequency of your recent contractions, and the calculator tells you which phase of labour you may be in and whether the 5-1-1 criteria have been met. For live timing, use a dedicated contraction timer app on your phone or a simple stopwatch.
To use the contraction timer calculator: 1. Track your contractions first. Use a phone app, stopwatch, or pen and paper to record the start time and end time of each contraction. Note the time from the start of one contraction to the start of the next (this is the frequency). 2. Enter the average contraction duration in seconds. For example, if your last several contractions lasted about 45 seconds each, enter 45. Typical early labour contractions last 30-45 seconds, while active labour contractions last 45-60 seconds. 3. Enter the time between contractions in minutes. This is measured from the start of one contraction to the start of the next. For example, if contractions start at 2:00, 2:07, 2:14, the frequency is 7 minutes. 4. Enter the number of recent contractions you have timed. A minimum of 6 contractions (about 1 hour of regular contractions) is needed to confidently assess the 5-1-1 rule. 5. Review the results. The calculator identifies your likely labour phase (early, active, or transition), whether the 5-1-1 rule has been met, and provides NHS-based guidance on what to do next.
The calculator assesses contractions against established labour phase criteria and the 5-1-1 rule. Labour phases are determined by contraction duration and frequency: - Not yet established: contractions more than 10 minutes apart or less than 20 seconds duration. This may be Braxton Hicks or very early pre-labour. - Early (latent) labour: contractions more than 5 minutes apart, typically less than 45 seconds duration. This phase can last many hours, especially for first-time mothers. - Active labour: contractions 3-5 minutes apart, lasting 45-60 seconds. This is when your cervix dilates from about 4 cm to 7 cm. - Transition: contractions 2-3 minutes apart, lasting 60-90 seconds. This is the most intense phase, typically corresponding to dilation from 7 cm to 10 cm (fully dilated). The 5-1-1 rule check requires all three conditions to be met simultaneously: frequency of 5 minutes or less between contractions, duration of at least 60 seconds per contraction, and at least 6 contractions recorded (representing approximately 1 hour of regular contractions). When all three conditions are met, the calculator advises calling your maternity unit. A "consider calling" recommendation is given when contractions are 5 minutes apart or less and lasting at least 45 seconds, even if the full 5-1-1 criteria are not yet met.
Every labour is different, and these guidelines are general. Contact your maternity unit at any time if you are worried, regardless of your contraction pattern. You should call immediately if your waters break (especially if the fluid is not clear), if you are bleeding, if your baby is moving less than usual, or if you feel unwell. For first-time mothers, early labour can last 6-12 hours or more. The NHS recommends staying at home during early labour if possible, resting between contractions, taking warm baths or showers, using breathing techniques, and eating light snacks for energy. Have your hospital bag packed and ready. For second or subsequent pregnancies, labour often progresses more quickly. If your previous labour was fast (under 2 hours), contact your maternity unit earlier than the 5-1-1 rule suggests. This calculator uses manual number inputs rather than live timing. For real-time contraction tracking, consider using a dedicated contraction timer app that records each contraction with a start/stop button. Key resources: NHS labour signs guidance (www.nhs.uk/pregnancy/labour-and-birth), Tommy's charity information on signs of labour (www.tommys.org), your hospital or birth centre's 24-hour triage telephone number (found in your maternity notes).