Skip to main content

Contractions timer

The contractions timer in PregnancyPal is a one-tap start/stop log that records each contraction's start time, end time, duration, and the interval since the previous one — giving you a clear running list and a pattern view you can share with your provider on a call or at the hospital.

When you start having regular tightening or contractions, what your provider asks first is "how long, how often, how strong, and when did they start?" The contractions timer answers all four without you doing math while uncomfortable. You tap Start when one begins, tap Stop when it ends. The app does the rest.

What you can do with the contractions timer​

  • Tap once to start a contraction, once again to end it. The app records start, end, duration, and the interval since the previous contraction.
  • See live pattern info — current duration, time since last, and a running list of recent contractions.
  • Add per-contraction notes — strength (mild/moderate/strong), what you were doing, position changes that helped.
  • View patterns over time — last 30 minutes, last hour, last 4 hours, full session.
  • Export the session as a PDF for your provider — the same data L&D triage staff want to see.
  • Pause and resume the session if you take a break.
  • Detect typical labor patterns with a visual cue (regular vs irregular, increasing duration, shrinking intervals) — but PregnancyPal will never tell you "this is labor".

How to time contractions​

  1. Open the timer: From the dashboard, tap Time contractions. The session screen takes over with two big buttons: Start contraction and (when active) End contraction.
  2. Tap Start when one begins: The button switches to End contraction and a live timer counts up. The previous interval (since the last contraction ended) shows above.
  3. Tap End when it stops: The contraction is added to the running list with start, end, duration, and the interval since the previous one.
  4. Add a note (optional): Tap the just-saved entry to add a strength rating or note ("walking helped slow them", "pop of pressure").
  5. Watch the pattern: The on-screen summary shows recent average duration and average interval. Pattern visualization helps you see whether contractions are getting longer, closer together, or stronger.
  6. Export and share: When it's time to call your provider or head to the hospital, tap Export as PDF. The PDF lists every contraction in the session with timestamps, durations, intervals, and your notes — exactly what L&D triage will ask for.

Examples​

  • Probable Braxton-Hicks — At 32 weeks you feel a few tightenings while folding laundry. You start a session, log 4 contractions over 90 minutes — irregular intervals (35, 12, 28 minutes), short durations (~30–40 seconds), no progression. The pattern is consistent with practice contractions, not labor. You drink water, lie down, and the contractions stop.
  • Regular pattern at 39 weeks — Contractions start at 11 PM. Over an hour you log 8 of them. Duration is climbing (45s → 50s → 55s → 60s). Intervals are shrinking (8 min → 7 min → 6 min). You call your provider, share the pattern, and head in.
  • 5-1-1 rule — Your provider told you "come in when contractions are 5 minutes apart, lasting 1 minute, for 1 hour." The pattern view in PregnancyPal makes this easy to see — your average interval and average duration update live.

Tips​

  • Start a session at the first contraction you suspect is real, not the third or fourth. The earliest entries provide the baseline.
  • Trust your gut. If something feels different from typical Braxton-Hicks, call your provider. PregnancyPal won't make that call for you, and it shouldn't.
  • Add brief strength notes — providers ask "how strong" and "are they getting stronger". Your notes are the answer.
  • Position changes matter. True labor contractions usually continue regardless of position; Braxton-Hicks often quiet down with rest, hydration, or a walk. Note position changes — your provider may ask.
  • Don't try to time every twinge. Wait until you have actual contractions to track. The session is meant to be useful, not a diary of vague sensations.
  • Bring your phone. When you head to the hospital, the contractions log on your phone is the most concise summary you can give to triage.

Frequently asked questions​

When should I start using the contractions timer?​

When you're noticing contractions you suspect could be real. For most people that's late third trimester, but some experience strong Braxton-Hicks earlier and want to track the pattern. There's no harm in starting a session at any point — sessions are independent.

What's the difference between Braxton-Hicks and real labor?​

Braxton-Hicks contractions are usually irregular, don't intensify, and often stop with hydration, rest, or a position change. Real labor contractions are typically regular, get longer and stronger over time, and don't stop with rest. Your provider will give you their specific go-to-hospital criteria — common ones include the 5-1-1 rule (5-minute intervals, 1-minute duration, for 1 hour). PregnancyPal helps you see the pattern; the decision is your provider's.

Will PregnancyPal tell me if I'm in labor?​

No. Determining labor is a clinical judgment. PregnancyPal can show you the pattern of your contractions, but interpretation belongs to you and your provider. The app shows visual cues for common patterns ("contractions getting longer", "intervals shrinking") but never declares "this is labor".

What if I forget to tap End?​

Tap the active session's contraction entry to manually edit start or end times. If you completely missed ending one, you can delete the entry from the session.

Can I time contractions for someone else (e.g., partner timing)?​

The interface is designed for self-use, but a partner using your phone works the same way. Some couples find the partner-times-it approach helpful in the moment.

How does the export-to-PDF look?​

A simple tabular log: start time, end time, duration, interval since previous, strength note. One row per contraction, ordered chronologically. Includes session totals (duration, contractions counted, average interval, average duration). Works perfectly for sharing with L&D triage on the phone or in person.

Does the timer work offline?​

On native mobile, yes — the session is saved locally and syncs when you reconnect. The web app needs a connection. If you're using the web app and lose connection during a session, your data is still on the page; reconnect to save.

Can I have multiple sessions at once?​

No — only one active session at a time. End the current session before starting a new one. Past sessions stay in your history with their original timestamps.

What if my contractions go away? Should I delete the session?​

Don't delete. The session is useful data — it shows your provider that you experienced timeable contractions but they self-resolved (a pattern often consistent with Braxton-Hicks or prodromal labor). Sessions stay in history regardless of how they end.

What this feature does NOT do​

  • Diagnose labor or call your provider for you. When to head to the hospital is your provider's call. PregnancyPal never says "go now".
  • Predict when labor will start. Pattern analysis shows what's happening now; it can't forecast the future.
  • Distinguish Braxton-Hicks from true labor with certainty. The patterns differ statistically, but individual variation is large. Real-time provider judgment is what you need.
  • Detect fetal distress during labor. If a contraction is followed by a meaningful, sustained drop in fetal movement or anything else worrisome, that's a call-your-provider moment regardless of what the contractions look like.
  • Replace continuous monitoring. In labor, your provider may use external or internal monitoring that captures information PregnancyPal doesn't (e.g., fetal heart rate response).

If you're unsure whether to head in, call your provider. Always. The contractions timer is a tool to make that call easier, not a substitute for it.

Updated 2026-05-10 by Ahsan Mahmood — aoneahsan.com — LinkedIn — GitHub