Your midwife or doctor will give you specific guidance for when to call and when to come in — based on your pregnancy, your history, and how far you live from care. That guidance always beats a general rule. When in doubt, call; that's what the line is for.
Braxton Hicks vs early labor
Braxton Hicks ("practice" contractions) are common in the third trimester. They tend to be:
- Irregular, and not getting closer together
- Mild, or uncomfortable rather than painful
- Often triggered by activity, dehydration, or a full bladder — and they usually ease if you change position, rest, or drink water
- Felt mostly at the front of the abdomen
Labor contractions tend to be:
- Regular, and gradually getting closer together
- Getting longer and stronger over time
- Not eased by resting, moving, or drinking water
- Often felt starting in the back and wrapping around, sometimes with a period-like ache or pressure
The pattern over an hour tells you more than any single contraction.
How to time contractions
You need two numbers:
- Frequency — from the start of one contraction to the start of the next. (Not end-to-start.)
- Duration — from the start of a contraction to when it eases off.
Time them for about an hour when they seem to be establishing a pattern. Note whether frequency is shortening and duration is lengthening — that progression is the signal, more than the raw numbers.
What "5-1-1" means
A widely used guideline for a low-risk, full-term pregnancy is to head to your birth location when contractions have been:
- 5 minutes apart (start to start)
- 1 minute long, each
- for at least 1 hour
Some providers use 4-1-1 or 3-1-1 instead, or give you different instructions if you have a fast history, live far from care, are preterm, are Group B Strep positive, or have other factors. Use the numbers your provider gave you, not the internet's.
Call sooner — don't wait for 5-1-1 — if
- Your waters break, or you think they have (note the time, colour, and smell)
- You have any vaginal bleeding
- You notice reduced or changed baby movements (see our kick counting guide)
- You have a severe or constant headache, vision changes, or sudden swelling
- Contractions are strong and close together before 37 weeks
- You feel the urge to push
- Something feels wrong, or you're just not sure — a phone call costs nothing
Nuga times contractions for you
Tap once at the start and end of each contraction — Nuga tracks frequency and duration and tells you the moment they hit the pattern your provider asked you to watch for.
Download on the App Store Available nowNuga provides information and timing tools. It does not diagnose labor or replace your care team. If you think you may be in labor, call your midwife, doctor, or maternity unit.