Timing Contractions, the Birthsmarter Way
Download our free iPhone contraction timing app, designed in partnership with a two-time Apple Design Award–winning developer (who also happens to be our founder's brother). Because in labor, how something feels matters as much as what it does.
At Birthsmarter, we know that labor is about so much more than timing contractions. In fact, focusing too closely on the clock can interrupt the physiological feedback loop that helps birth unfold.
And still… Most people do time contractions for at least an hour or two to get a sense of their pattern and decide when it’s time to head to the hospital or call in their birth team. So we asked ourselves:
If people are going to time contractions anyway, what would a Birthsmarter-approved version look like?
All contraction timing apps do the same basic thing.
Press start. Press stop. Press start. Press stop.
They tell you how long contractions last and how often they’re coming.
Ours does that too—just without the ads, the anxiety-inducing countdowns, or the cheesy, condescending imagery.
These might sound like small choices, but we believe birth experiences can be defined by the tiniest details.
Our app offers a distraction-free mode that lets you hide the clock entirely, so you can focus on the pattern, not the seconds.
We allow you to tap anywhere on the screen to start or stop the timer. Because whether you’re timing your own contraction, or supporting someone else we know you have more on your mind than hitting the right button for start/stop.
And when you do press that button (or forget to press that button) by accident? We’ve got you.
The app automatically filters out contractions that are clearly inaccurate (under 15 seconds or over 2.5 minutes) so one missed moment doesn’t throw everything off. The timer also keeps running even if you close the app, so you can text, call, take photos, or change the music without worry.
We can’t promise that using this app will shorten your labor. But physiologically speaking, removing stress, visual noise, and unnecessary decision-making? Why not 😉
Available for iOS | Data privacy respected | Designed with care