Contractions: how to recognise real labour (and the 5-1-1 rule)

Your belly suddenly goes hard, and that question rises up: "is this it?". In the vast majority of cases, no — and knowing how to tell practice contractions from real labour changes everything: fewer trips back and forth for nothing, less anxiety, and a calm departure at the right moment. Here are the concrete signs, and the famous 5-1-1 rule.

Braxton Hicks contractions: the body rehearsing

From the second trimester, the uterus rehearses its score: these are Braxton Hicks contractions, often called "false contractions". Their signature: they're irregular, often painless — the belly hardens for a few dozen seconds, then relaxes — they don't get closer together, and they ease off with rest, a change of position or a large glass of water. They can be striking, especially the first time, but they don't move labour forward: it's a warm-up.

Real labour: four concrete differences

Real labour has a completely different character. The contractions become regular: they come back at shorter and shorter intervals. They get longer: each one lasts a little more than the last. They intensify: what was discomfort becomes real pain, often starting in the lower back and radiating towards the front of the belly. And above all, they persist whatever you do: neither a shower, nor rest, nor a change of position calms them. When these four signs come together, it's no longer practice.

Pregnant woman sitting, hands on her belly, practising slow, deep breathing — Long exhale, shoulders loose: slow breathing helps you ride the waves in early labour.

The 5-1-1 rule: when to leave for a first baby

For a first baby, at term, the classic guide is the 5-1-1 rule: contractions every 5 minutes, lasting about 1 minute each, for 1 hour. When all three conditions are met, it's time to head to the hospital. For a second baby or more, don't wait for this stage: labour often goes faster, so leave earlier. And in every case, the instructions given by your maternity unit take priority: some teams ask you to call before coming, others adjust the threshold to your situation — distance, medical history, closely monitored pregnancy.

The situations where you leave without counting

Some situations bypass the rule: you call and you leave without waiting. Your waters breaking, even without any contraction — note the time and the colour of the fluid, the team will ask you. Bright red bleeding. Continuous pain that doesn't ease between contractions. A baby who moves less than usual. A fever. And before 37 weeks, regular and painful contractions aren't something to "keep an eye on" at home: call the maternity unit immediately.

Illustration of labour and birth: regular contractions, the cervix opening and baby descending into the pelvis — Regular, long, close together: effective contractions are the ones that move labour forward.

While you wait at home

If labour starts gently and all is well, home is often the best place for the first few hours. Move: walk, rock your pelvis on a birth ball. Step under a warm shower. Breathe slowly, lengthening the exhale — that's what relaxes you. Eat lightly, drink, and rest between the waves: even ten minutes lying on your side counts. The goal isn't to "hold out" as long as possible, but to arrive at the hospital in well-established labour — it's more comfortable for you.

💡 Time three contractions, not thirty To know where you stand, note the start time and duration of three or four contractions in a row, then check again half an hour later. Timing continuously for hours is tiring and stokes anxiety for nothing — it's the trend that matters, not each individual wave.

⚠️ At the slightest doubt, call Before 37 weeks, regular and painful contractions, a loss of fluid or bleeding all warrant an immediate call to the maternity unit — no "wait and see". At term, if you're unsure, call too: sorting out who should come in is a midwife's job, and no one will ever hold a wasted trip against you.

Your questions, answered

Waters breaking or a urine leak: how can I tell?

In late pregnancy the two are easily confused — and sometimes impossible to settle on your own, especially if the loss is slight. At the slightest doubt, put on a clean pad and call your maternity unit: the team can examine you and test the fluid to be sure.

Do early labour contractions always hurt?

Not always. The start can feel like painful period cramps or a backache that comes and goes. What signals labour isn't the intensity of the first episode, it's the trend: contractions that get closer together, longer and stronger.

Can I take a bath or a shower?

A warm shower is an excellent ally in early labour: it relaxes you and helps you distinguish real from false contractions. For a bath, ask your maternity unit's advice — especially if you think your waters may have broken.

What should I note down for the maternity unit?

The start time of the contractions, their frequency and duration — and, if your waters break, the time and the colour of the fluid. That's exactly what the team will ask you on the phone, and it's what the app records for you.

Also worth reading: The hospital bag: the checklist that takes the stress away · Baby's movements: what's normal, when to call

One button per contraction, the app does the rest

Mama4care's contraction timer applies the 5-1-1 rule for you: tap at each contraction, the app works out the frequency and duration, and tells you clearly where you stand — even at 3 a.m., even with shaking hands.

Download the app

Sources

This article is for information only and has been reviewed by the Mama4care team. It does not replace medical advice: for any question about your health or your baby's, talk to your midwife, doctor or paediatrician. In an emergency, call your local emergency number.