How the contraction timer works
The 4-1-2 (or 5-1-1) rule
The standard first-labor guidance: go to the hospital when contractions are ~4–5 minutes apart, lasting ~1 minute, sustained for ~2 hours (your provider may personalize this — second babies often move the threshold earlier). The timer computes all three numbers from your actual record, updated with every tap.
What to record
Hospitals ask two questions: how long each contraction runs (start to end) and how far apart they start (start-to-start, not end-to-start). The timer logs both plus the trend over the last hour. Timing from the peak or guessing afterward is the classic error — tap when the wave begins to build and when it releases.
When the numbers stop mattering
Call earlier than the rule if: water breaks (any time), bleeding, severe pain between contractions, decreased fetal movement, or you simply feel something is wrong — providers would rather triage a false alarm than a late arrival. And the rule bends for location: >45 minutes from the hospital, a tighter threshold is prudent. Ask at a prenatal visit, not during labor.
Braxton Hicks vs labor, practically
Practice contractions are irregular, fade with rest/hydration/position change, and stay weak-to-moderate. Labor contractions persist and intensify regardless of what you do. The timer's trend line is the tiebreaker: a pattern that keeps its rhythm while you walk and drink water is worth the call.