Skip to main content
  1. Home
  2. Stages

NewFolks may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

These are the best contraction timers to track the stages of labor

Find out if you're experiencing the real thing or false labor

By

The third trimester of pregnancy is very exciting, but it can also be very stressful! It’s the stage of pregnancy when Braxton Hicks contractions become more and more common, leaving any parent-to-be wondering if they should be heading to the hospital or simply sitting down with their feet up, relaxing. Contractions are the body’s way of preparing for childbirth, and people are told to monitor their contractions to determine when it’s time to finally go to the hospital. It can sometimes be hard to tell if what an expectant person is experiencing is just false labor or the real deal, especially if this is their first baby.

Thanks to smartphones, we now have many options when it comes to timing contractions. Length contraction calculators help people accurately time their contractions as well as record their intensity to help them decide if it’s time for the big event or if their body is simply experiencing Braxton Hicks.

Recommended Videos

Healthline notes that it’s a good time to call your doctor when contractions are 5 minutes apart, last for 1 minute, and have been happening for 1 hour, otherwise known as the 5-1-1 rule. Keep reading to learn how contraction timers can help you during labor, as well as which are the best contraction timers to help you decide when it’s time to go to the hospital.

Related

Full Term contraction timer

Expectant couple timing pregnancy contractions
Andersen Ross Photography Inc / Getty Images

The Full Term contraction timer is touted as one of the most used and trusted contraction timers in the app store thanks to its easy-to-use interface. Full Term features a large green “start” and red “stop” button, making it easy to use, even during more stressful or intense times. The app keeps track of the timing, duration, and frequency of your contractions for you, and it even allows you to set up a “Contraction Alert” based on the 5-1-1 rule. This app also features a fetal kick counter and general pregnancy reference information for use throughout your pregnancy.

Full Term is available for download for free with the option for in-app purchases on both Apple and Android devices.

9M contraction timer and counter

Pregnant woman using contraction timer app
Oscar Wong / Getty Images

The 9M contraction timer and counter is another super easy-to-use app that allows you to effortlessly track your contractions. The app features start and stop buttons that allow you to document when your contractions start and stop as well as analyze the data to suggest when it may be time to go to the hospital, based on the duration and frequency of your contractions.

The 9M counter and contraction timer are available for download for free, with the option for in-app purchases on both Apple and Android devices.

Time Labor contraction timer

Pregnant woman on couch holding her stomach
Tomsickova Tatyana / Shutterstock

Time Labor is an easy-to-use contraction timer that you start with the press of a button and can be stopped by pressing anywhere on your screen (which is handy if your contractions are getting more intense!). This app is intended to help you keep track of the times, durations, and frequency of the entire labor period. It also features handy visual cues that let you note the intensity of each contraction as well as a section to add notes to each contraction.

Time Labor is available for download for free on both Apple and Android devices.

BabyCenter pregnancy tracker

Dad kissing baby belly
Image used with permission by copyright holder

The BabyCenter pregnancy tracker is an app that any expectant mother will refer to throughout her pregnancy. In addition to a handy contraction timer that allows you to monitor your progress when labor begins, it also helps guide the expectant mom through all the stages of her pregnancy. This app allows you to track your baby’s growth using 3-D fetal development videos, highlights pregnancy symptoms, provides advice, and has fun elements like baby naming suggestions, weekly polls, and a place to upload your baby bump pics to document your progress.

BabyCenter Pregnancy Tracker is available for download for free on both Apple and Android devices.

WebMD pregnancy tracker

A pregnant person, sitting in profile, holding a smartphone
Syda Productions / Adobe Stock

The WebMD pregnancy tracker is another app that not only provides an easy-to-use contraction counter but also tools that are useful throughout your entire pregnancy. It contains more than 900 doctor-approved articles, videos, slideshows and quizzes, safety tips, and expert-curated checklists to guide you from the first trimester through delivery. In addition to the contraction counter, this app also features a symptom tracker, a weight and blood pressure tracker, and a kick counter.

The WebMD pregnancy tracker is available for download for free on Apple devices.

Storky contraction timer

Man and pregnant woman sit on bed looking at a smartphone
x

The Storky contraction timer is another straightforward app that allows you to record your contractions. It has a simple one-button start and stop interface that will record your contractions and also provide you with information on your contractions. The timing and interval lengths are all displayed in one place so you are able to see your progress and share it with your doctor or other health professional to get accurate medical advice on when it’s time to head to the hospital or prepare for the birth.

The Storky contraction timer is available for download for free with the option for in-app purchases on Apple devices.

Contraction timers are a really easy way to track the different stages of labor and help you decide when it’s time to call the doctor. With a variety of different apps to choose from at little to no cost, there’s something that will work for everyone.

Editors’ Recommendations

Topics
Kelli Catana
Kelli Catana
Contributor
Kelli is a freelance writer who has covered the world of entertainment, pop culture, parenting, and lifestyle for various…
Pregnancy pain: What it means, and when to worry
How to tell if your pregnancy pain is normal or if you should be calling your doctor
Pregnant woman on couch holding her stomach

Even though pregnancy is an exciting time in a person's life, it's also filled with discomfort and sometimes pain. This can be worrying to anyone, especially those who are going through it for the first time. However, there are two bits of good news: The symptoms are usually temporary, and most of them are perfectly normal.

For example, pregnancy pain occurs at different times throughout the gestation period, and some aches are just a bit more intense than others. However, knowing what to expect helps to lessen any fears that you might have. Plus, you’ll gain some information about when you should contact your obstetrician.
Possible causes

Read more
Your third trimester of pregnancy: What to expect before baby’s arrival
How to prepare for those last few months of pregnancy
Pregnant woman cradling baby bump

Pregnancy is an exciting time, but many women begin to feel an array of emotions as they approach the third trimester. The third trimester brings everyone one step closer to having a new baby in the house. Not only does the body continue to go through a lot of changes in the third trimester, but the baby will also experience significant development at this time.
While this is an exciting time it can also be a bit stressful for any expectant mother, leading to feelings of anxiousness and nervousness. Pregnancy can take a toll on a woman's mental and physical health so it's important she continues to prioritize her care throughout her pregnancy. Here's some of what mothers-to-be can expect during the final weeks of pregnancy and how to prepare for labor and delivery.

When is the third trimester?

Read more
Do pregnancy tests expire? What you should know
Find out if you should use one past the expiration date
Woman excited at pregnancy test

From over-the-counter medicines to things in your fridge, we worry about the expiration dates of items that go into our bodies. Some things you could get away with trying past the expiration date, but with others, you don't want to compromise on the quality. One of those items you don't want to play around with is a pregnancy test. Whether you want a positive or a negative result, you don't want that to fail you. Do pregnancy tests expire? Can you use a pregnancy past the expiration date? Here's what to know about how good the pregnancy test you have in the cabinet is.
When a pregnancy test expires

Have you noticed one on your bottled water? Everything has an expiration date. Yes, even a pregnancy test has an expiration date. Most pregnancy tests will last one to three years after the manufacturing date, some two to three years. That is a huge spread, sure, and an expired pregnancy test isn't something you want to hope is still good. To keep it safe, don't buy any tests that are a few months away from the expiration date. You can't take a test until you are a week late (with most), so there has to be some wriggle room.
Digital vs. non-digital tests
Are digital and non-digital tests the same when it comes to the expiration date? Yes. They both have a shelf life of the same time frame. There might be a difference in how you read the various tests, but both non-digital and digital pregnancy tests have expiration dates. Look at the bottom of the box and on the individual package to find it.
Get the most out of your pregnancy test

Read more