Time from the start of one to the start of the next
Almost everyone gets this wrong the first time, and it is the difference between a useful pattern and a page of numbers that tells you nothing.
Quick answer
Time contractions from the start of one to the start of the next, not from the end of one to the start of the next. Record two things each time: how long the contraction lasted, and how far apart they are. Many maternity units use a 5-1-1 guide, meaning contractions five minutes apart, lasting one minute each, holding that pattern for one hour, as a signal to ring the labour ward. Some units use 4-1-1 or 3-1-1, and some ask you to call sooner for a second or later baby. Always follow the number your own maternity unit gave you, and call immediately regardless of timing if your waters break, you have any bleeding, reduced fetal movements, or you simply feel something is wrong.
is how contraction spacing is measured. Timing end to start makes them look further apart than they are.
is the most widely used call-the-ward guide: 5 minutes apart, 1 minute long, sustained for 1 hour. Your unit may use a different number.
of a consistent pattern is what matters. A few close contractions followed by a gap is usually not established labour.
How to time a contraction properly
A contraction builds, peaks and fades. You are timing two separate things and it helps to keep them clearly apart in your head.
| What you are measuring | Where you start the clock | Where you stop |
|---|---|---|
| Duration (how long it lasts) | When the tightening begins | When your abdomen feels soft again |
| Frequency (how far apart) | When one contraction begins | When the NEXT one begins |
The frequency row is the one people get wrong. If a contraction lasts one minute and there are four minutes of rest afterwards, those contractions are five minutes apart, not four. Getting this backwards is why some mums ring the ward believing they are further along than they are, and why others wait far too long.
Step 1: Start recording once they feel regular
There is no point logging the occasional tightening you have had for a fortnight. Start when they begin arriving with some rhythm and you find yourself pausing what you are doing.
Step 2: Log at least six in a row
A single contraction tells you nothing. Six consecutive entries start to show whether there is a genuine pattern, whether the gaps are shortening, and whether each one is lasting longer.
Step 3: Look for the pattern, not the individual numbers
Established labour looks like contractions getting longer, stronger and closer together, and continuing regardless of what you do. Practice contractions, sometimes called Braxton Hicks, tend to be irregular, do not get closer together, and often ease off if you change position, empty your bladder, have a bath or drink some water.
Step 4: Apply your unit's rule and call
Once your pattern matches the number your maternity unit gave you and has held for an hour, ring them. Have your notes or app details to hand. If you are unsure, ring anyway. Triage midwives take these calls constantly and would far rather talk to you early than late.
Call straight away, whatever the timings say
Timing rules assume an otherwise straightforward picture. Ring your maternity unit or emergency services immediately, regardless of the pattern, if your waters break or you think they have, you have any vaginal bleeding, your baby's movements have reduced or changed, you have constant unrelenting pain rather than waves, you have a fever, severe headache or visual changes, or you are less than 37 weeks. Trust your instinct over any chart, including this one.
Real versus practice contractions
| Clue | Braxton Hicks | Established labour |
|---|---|---|
| Rhythm | Irregular, unpredictable | Regular and increasingly close together |
| Intensity | Stays about the same | Builds over time |
| Effect of moving | Often eases with a change of position or a bath | Continues whatever you do |
| Where you feel it | Usually front of the bump | Often starts in the back and wraps around |
| Duration | Variable, often under 30 seconds | Lengthening towards 45 to 60 seconds |
What to do during early labour
Early labour can last a long time, particularly with a first baby, and the most useful thing you can do is conserve energy. Eat something, stay hydrated, rest between contractions, and try to sleep if it is night. Have a bath, move around, and get your hospital bag by the door. Timing every single contraction for eight hours is exhausting and unnecessary; check the pattern for twenty minutes every hour or two instead.
Somewhere to write it all down
The Mumma Glow Contraction Tracker is a printable early labour timeline and timing log with start-to-start columns already set out, so you or your partner can log a pattern without doing mental arithmetic mid-contraction. Use code GLOW20 for 20% off. Get the contraction tracker.
Frequently asked questions
Do you time contractions from the end or the start?
From the start of one contraction to the start of the next. Timing from the end of one to the start of the next makes them appear further apart than they are and is the most common mistake.
What does the 5-1-1 rule mean?
Contractions coming every five minutes, each lasting about one minute, sustained for a full hour. Many maternity units use it as the point to ring the labour ward, though some use 4-1-1 or 3-1-1, and advice differs for second and later babies. Use the number your own unit gave you.
How do I know if they are Braxton Hicks?
Practice contractions are usually irregular, do not intensify, and often ease off if you change position, have a bath or drink water. Labour contractions get longer, stronger and closer together and carry on regardless.
Should I go to hospital as soon as contractions start?
Usually not, unless your unit has told you otherwise or you have any warning sign. Early labour is often more comfortable at home, and units frequently send mums home again if labour is not yet established. Ring for advice rather than guessing.
When should I call regardless of the timings?
If your waters break, you have any bleeding, your baby is moving less or differently, you have constant pain rather than waves, you have a fever or severe headache, you are under 37 weeks, or you simply feel worried. Timing rules assume everything else is straightforward.
Sources: NHS guidance on the signs and stages of labour; American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG) patient guidance on how to tell when labour begins; Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG) intrapartum care guidance.
This article is general education, not medical advice, and it is not a substitute for the instructions your own maternity unit has given you. Timing guidance varies between units and between first and subsequent babies. Contact your maternity unit or emergency services immediately if your waters break, you have bleeding, reduced fetal movements, severe or constant pain, fever, or any concern at all about you or your baby.