How do I time contractions and when should I go to the hospital?

Question

Accepted Answer

Time how long each contraction lasts (duration) and the gap from the start of one to the start of the next (interval). The ACOG 5-1-1 rule is a common cue to head to the hospital: contractions 5 minutes apart, 1 minute long, sustained for 1 hour. The right cue can differ depending on whether it is your first labor, distance to the hospital, and whether your water has broken or there is bleeding — always follow your OB-GYN. This timer stores entries only in your browser (localStorage) and never sends them anywhere.