Contraction Calculator And Its Uses

Contractions are a natural way of guiding women through the delivery process. The pain experienced during labour helps women to get into the ideal positions to make the delivery easy.

A pregnant mum experiences contractions from the fourth month of her pregnancy. Contractions are the periodic tightening and relaxing of the uterine muscle. You can also sometimes feel pressure in your back or pelvis, similar to menstrual cramps.

The intensity of each contraction indicates that your body is actively working towards dilating the cervix for a smooth passage of the baby.

If you think that you are going into labour, your contraction count can help the doctor to determine whether you should go to the hospital for delivery. Therefore, a contraction calculator has been designed to assist the mums-to-be, to calculate their contractions.

What Is A Contraction Calculator?

A contraction calculator is also known as a tracker or timer, it gives an insight into all contractions which pregnant women experience from their fourth month of pregnancy. These details, in turn enable them to understand the right timing for visiting a hospital.

A contraction calculator automatically tracks, times, and counts contractions. It analyses the duration and frequency of contractions and will notify you of the time to go to the hospital.

A contraction calculator is a handy device and aids your doctor in assessing the situation better.

Benefits of Timing Contractions

Some of the benefits of timing contractions are-

• It tells the difference between true and false labour contractions. For the latter, the contractions will go away with movement and won’t increase in frequency over time. On the other hand, true labour contractions increase in frequency and won’t go away even if you change positions.

• The healthcare provider can use this information to figure out whether it’s time for you to head to the hospital.

5 Ways to Time Contractions

The timing of contractions plays an important role. Besides, helping you understand which stage of labour you are experiencing, it gives you an insight into how well your labour is progressing.

Here’s a guide for you to measure uterine contractions-

• Make a note of the time when your first contraction starts.
• Write down the duration of the contraction.
• Mark the length of time from the start of the contraction to the start of the next one.
• Keep noting these times for an hour to check if there is a pattern.
• Continue to time each contraction to check if they occur regularly. If they don’t, you can take a break until you experience it again.

How Does A Contraction Calculator Work?

A contraction calculator is an accurate tool to measure and track the length of contractions. Here’s how it works-

• You can hit the start button as soon as you experience a contraction and hit the stop button when it subsides.
• The time difference between the two activities shows the correct measurement of your contraction.
• Contractions that last between 45-60 seconds at intervals of three to five minutes require medical attention, and you must consult your doctor without any delay.
• Using a contraction calculator lets you understand if the contractions follow a specific pattern which in turn helps.

Contraction Timer Apps

Today, tracking contraction has become easier with the help of a few apps. Some of the contraction calculator apps are-

• Full Term Contraction Timer: With a super simple interface, the Full Term app is available for Apple and Android devices. It has a bright green start button for timing a contraction.
• Sprout Pregnancy Contraction Timer: An easy-to-use contraction timer, this app is user-friendly.
• Storky Contraction Timer: Available only for Apple devices, this app too lets you track contraction easily.
• iBirth: Available for iOS or Android devices, this app has video clips to enable you to find good positions for labour.
• Contraction Master: Available as a web-based tool as well as an app for iOS or Android, it has a user-friendly interface. 

A contraction tracker is something all expecting mothers should use to track contractions easily.

Also Read – Ovulation Calculator