5-1-1 Rule Algorithm & Labor Stage Detection
Sophisticated labor monitoring with a selectable hospital rule (5-1-1, 4-1-1 or 3-1-1), automatic classification across Early Labor, Active Labor and Transition, Apple Watch sync, Live Activities, and hospital alert triggering.
Labor Stage Classification
Automatic detection across three stages — Early Labor, Active Labor and Transition
| Stage | Interval | Duration | Intensity | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Early Labor | Anything not Active or Transition | 20 sec or longer | Mild-Moderate | Stay home, time contractions |
| Active Labor | 5 min apart or less | 45 sec or longer | Moderate-Strong | Keep timing — the hospital rule also needs an hour of pattern |
| Transition | 3 min apart or less | 60 sec or longer | Very Strong | Go to hospital immediately |
Your Hospital Rule: 5-1-1, 4-1-1 or 3-1-1
Clinical guideline for when to go to the hospital
5 Minutes Apart
Your contractions average 5 minutes apart or less, measured from the start of one to the start of the next. Pick 4-1-1 or 3-1-1 and this threshold moves to 4 or 3 minutes.
1 Minute Duration
Your contractions average at least 60 seconds. The check runs on the average inside the last hour, not on every single contraction — one short one won't reset your progress.
1 Hour Consistency
Your rule's pattern has held for at least 60 minutes. This prevents false alerts from brief patterns, and the 1-hour requirement is the same whichever rule you pick.
Intensity Classification
A 1–10 scale with five named bands over a three-colour gauge
| Level | Description | Pain Scale | Color |
|---|---|---|---|
| Very Mild | Barely noticeable — easy to talk and move through | 1-2 | Green |
| Mild | Noticeable but comfortable, can talk through it | 3-4 | Green → Amber |
| Moderate | Uncomfortable, need to focus, breathing helps | 5-6 | Amber |
| Strong | Painful, difficult to talk, need to concentrate | 7-8 | Red |
| Very Strong | Intense pain, cannot talk, vocalizing | 9-10 | Red |
Platform Integration
Apple Watch, Live Activities, and data export
Apple Watch Sync
Start and end contractions from your wrist via WatchConnectivity. Real-time bidirectional sync between iPhone and Apple Watch.
Live Activity
Dynamic Island shows active contraction timer with duration and intensity. Lock Screen widget displays ongoing contraction status.
Session Summary Sharing
Share a formatted text summary of your contraction history — start time, duration, and intensity — with your healthcare provider via the share sheet.
Hospital Alert Triggers
Automatic notifications when criteria are met
Your hospital rule met
The one trigger. An automatic alert when the rule you selected — 5-1-1, 4-1-1 or 3-1-1 — is fully met across the last hour.
Rolling 1-hour window
The rule is checked against the completed contractions inside the last hour, on their averages — one short or late contraction doesn't reset your progress.
Dismiss and re-arm
A small × dismisses the alert. It comes back 30 minutes later, or sooner if your average intensity climbs by two levels.
Alert Actions
One tap to call. The alert's single button asks you to confirm, then dials the emergency number for the country you're in — resolved from your region, never hard-coded. A small × dismisses the alert for 30 minutes.
Frequently Asked Questions
Common questions about the contraction timer
The 5-1-1 rule is a clinical guideline: head in when contractions are 5 minutes apart, each lasting 1 minute, for at least 1 hour. Providers hand out 4-1-1 and 3-1-1 too, so ProbaBaby lets you pick which rule the timer tracks — the interval threshold moves to 4 or 3 minutes and the minimum number of logged contractions rises from 6 to 8 or 12. The 1-minute duration and the 1-hour pattern stay the same in all three.
Once you've logged at least three completed contractions, the app averages their interval and duration and classifies the pattern: Transition (3 minutes apart or less, with contractions of 60 seconds or more), Active Labor (5 minutes apart or less, 45 seconds or more), otherwise Early Labor as long as they run 20 seconds or longer. It's deliberately simple — there's no hidden scoring you can't check against your own numbers.
Yes. Start and end contractions from your wrist using the Apple Watch app. WatchConnectivity syncs data bidirectionally in real-time between iPhone and Watch.
The alert appears when the hospital rule you picked is fully met: enough completed contractions inside the last hour (6 for 5-1-1, 8 for 4-1-1, 12 for 3-1-1), an average interval at or under your rule's threshold, an average duration of at least 60 seconds, and a session that has run for at least an hour. You can tag a contraction "water broke" or "bloody show" as a note, but only the rule raises the alert. You can dismiss it — it comes back after 30 minutes, or sooner if your average intensity climbs by two levels.
Yes. Share a formatted text summary of your contraction history — start time, duration, and intensity — via email, AirDrop, or messaging apps.
No. ProbaBaby's contraction timer is a tracking tool, not a medical device. Always follow your healthcare provider's guidance about when to go to the hospital. The 5-1-1 rule is general guidance — your situation may differ.
Related Features
Time Contractions with Confidence
Download ProbaBaby for a contraction timer that tracks the rule your provider gave you — 5-1-1, 4-1-1 or 3-1-1 — with Apple Watch sync and an automatic hospital alert.
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