Why shouldn’t I track my early labor contractions?Įarly labor is probably, in my opinion, the hardest part of all labor. This timing is different for everyone, but if you’re laboring strong and consistently over at least an hour of time, and want to go in, it’s not too early! When you are having consistent, close contractions that are long, strong and have you laboring and focusing on them in a way that you wouldn’t be comfortable letting neighbors see as you’re walking down the street, it’s probably a good time to go! Even slightly before that is fine if you’re unable to relax and let your body assist contractions. So when do you go to your birth location? Even without timing them, you’ll know that this is happening. It’ll move forward, increasing in intensity and duration, over time and build. You won’t need to speed it up, you won’t be able to slow it down. It will call all of your attention and strength to keep yourself comfortable during it. You won’t miss active, progressive labor. Whoa, what? Everyone says to time them! How will you know when to go to the hospital or birth center, or to call your midwife or doula? What if you miss something? You don’t need to time your early labor contractions. That’s what you’re supposed to do, right? You wouldn’t want to miss anything or not be able to relay the timing to your provider.

Not wanting to miss it, you grab that popular contraction timing app. You remember hearing from your providers that they want you to come in when contractions are a certain timing apart.

You feel signs of labor beginning - it’s so exciting!

Contraction timing