How to Measure Contractions During Labor

Timing your contractions prepares you for the birth of your baby.

Measuring your contractions during labor is an important part of determining when your baby will be born. The Mayo Clinic states contractions become longer, stronger and closer together as the birth of your baby approaches. Enlist in the help of a nurse, labor coach or your partner, to time and measure your contractions while you work your way through them.

Things You'll Need

• Stopwatch or clock with second hand

Instructions

1. Start timing your contractions from the beginning of one to the beginning of the next, according to Mayo Clinic. This gives you the most accurate time frame of how far apart the contractions are.

2. Begin the stopwatch; have someone watch the clock or count aloud when your contraction begins. You probably want someone else to do this, as you will be preoccupied with working through the contraction and pain.

3. Keep counting through the peak of the contraction until you feel the pressure and pain subside. Most contractions last anywhere from 30 seconds to 1 minute.

4. Continue counting until your next contraction. This determines how far apart your contractions are (anywhere from 10 minutes to continuous when you are close to delivery).

5. Restart the counting process when the next contraction begins.

References

• Mayo Clinic; Labor and delivery, postpartum care; March 2011

Resources

• "What To Expect When You're Expecting"; Heidi Murkoff, Arlene Eisenberg and Sandee Hathaway; 2002