Duration
How long each contraction lasts: start time to end time.
Labor prep for dads
Contraction timing is a job. Give dad the clipboard.
When labor may be starting, dads can help by tracking contraction start times, end times, spacing, notes, bags, chargers, route, and the care team’s instructions — without turning into a panicked spreadsheet goblin.
Call-first rule: Use your care team’s exact instructions. Call your OB, midwife, hospital, or emergency services right away for bleeding, severe pain, water breaking when instructed, decreased fetal movement, high blood pressure symptoms, fever, or anything that feels wrong. This page is educational, not medical advice.
Frequency
How far apart contractions are: start of one contraction to start of the next.
Pattern + notes
Intensity, changes, fluid, symptoms, movement, and what the care team told you to do.
Before calling
- Contraction pattern
- Due date / gestational week
- Water broken?
- Bleeding or concerning symptoms?
Before leaving
- Hospital bag
- Phone chargers
- ID / insurance
- Car seat ready
In DadYolked
- Pregnancy prep
- Contraction notes
- Hospital bag checklist
- Post-birth baby logs
What should dads track during contractions?
Track when each contraction starts and ends, its duration, start-to-start spacing, relevant changes, and the care team’s instructions.
Does a contraction timer tell us when to go to the hospital?
No. A timer records a pattern; it cannot assess labor or replace instructions from your OB, midwife, hospital, or other qualified care professional.
Does the timer save or send contraction data?
No. This practice timer runs in this browser tab and does not save, upload, or send its entries. Clearing the page or closing the tab removes the temporary list.
Sources and further reading
Use your own care team’s plan first. For general education, see ACOG: How to Tell When Labor Begins and March of Dimes: Contractions and signs of labor.
Pregnancy prep should survive the drive to the hospital.
DadYolked helps dads organize pregnancy prep, then keeps going after birth with feeds, diapers, sleep, medicine, milestones, Dad Recovery, Apple Watch, Siri, widgets, and private local-first records.
Helpful related pages
Dad app for pregnancy · Hospital bag checklist for dad · Paternity leave planner · Newborn care tools
Published by DadYolked · Updated August 21, 2026 · Editorial standards and corrections