How to use a contraction timer
The short answer
A contraction timer records two things: how long each contraction lasts and how far apart they are, start to start. You tap once when one begins and again when it eases. Over time, a pattern appears. The timer simply describes what you entered — it never decides what the pattern means. That conversation belongs to you and your care provider.
The two taps
Using a contraction timer is genuinely just two taps. You tap once the moment a contraction begins, and tap again when it eases. That’s it. From those two moments the timer works out the two numbers people talk about: duration (how long the contraction lasted) and frequency (how far apart they are, measured start to start).
What the numbers describe
Duration is the length of a single contraction. Frequency is the gap from the start of one to the start of the next — so a “5 minutes apart” reading counts from beginning to beginning, not from the end of one to the start of the next. As you keep tapping, an average pattern appears: roughly how long, roughly how far apart. The timer is simply describing what you entered.
What it doesn’t do
A contraction timer doesn’t decide what your pattern means, and it can’t tell you when to go anywhere. It’s a notebook with a stopwatch, not an oracle. Questions about timing — what it means for you, and what to do next — belong to you and your care provider. That’s a feature, not a limitation: the honest tool is the trustworthy one.
Sharing the log
The quiet power of timing in HiDoula is that the same log can be shared — gently — with the doula you invite. You keep tapping; she reads along in her shared timing view, seeing the very same pattern you see. No one has to relay numbers over text at 3am; it’s just there, for the people you’ve invited.
Try it yourself
The easiest way to understand a contraction timer is to use one. You can try the real HiDoula timer right now — no signup, nothing saved — and watch the pattern appear as you tap.
Maya Ellison
Certified Birth Doula
Maya is a certified birth doula who has supported families through hundreds of births. She reviews HiDoula’s learning pages for warmth, accuracy, and plain language — and to keep every word firmly on the human side of the line.
Last reviewed June 2026.
This is general, non-medical information to help you plan and feel prepared — not care advice for your specific situation. For urgent concerns, contact your care provider or local emergency services.