The 5-1-1 rule: when to go to the hospital
"How do I know when it's time?" The most common answer providers give is the 5-1-1 rule — a simple pattern that signals labor is established enough to head in or call.
What 5-1-1 means
- 5 — five minutes apart: contractions start every 5 minutes (measured start-to-start), or closer.
- 1 — lasting one minute: each contraction lasts about 60 seconds from build-up to fade.
- 1 — for one hour: that pattern holds consistently for a full hour.
When all three line up, active labor is likely underway — for most low-risk, first-time pregnancies that's the standard cue to call your provider or head to the hospital or birth center.
Important exceptions
- Your provider's instructions win. Some will ask for 4-1-1 or 3-1-1, especially for second babies; others want an earlier call if you're group B strep positive or live far away.
- Fast previous labor? Don't wait for a perfect pattern — go earlier.
- Water breaking, bleeding, or reduced movement mean call right away, regardless of contraction pattern.
Why the pattern is hard to spot by hand
Recognizing 5-1-1 requires accurate timing of every contraction for an hour — while you're having them. A scribbled note here and a missed contraction there, and you genuinely can't tell whether you've met the threshold. This is exactly the problem a contraction timer with pattern detection solves. If you're not sure you're timing correctly, start with our guide on how to time contractions.
Lunera PRO watches for 5-1-1 so you don't have to
While you time contractions with one tap, Lunera PRO's 5-1-1 pattern detection continuously checks your session against the rule — contractions 5 minutes apart, lasting 1 minute, for 1 hour — and alerts you the moment the pattern is met.
- No mental math between contractions — the app tracks intervals and durations precisely
- The alert is your cue to call your doctor or midwife, exactly as they advised
- Generate a PDF report of the whole session (timings, averages, 5-1-1 status) to share when you call
- Works with the Live Activity on your lock screen and Dynamic Island
Quick answers
Is the 5-1-1 rule the same for second babies?
Often not — second labors tend to move faster, so many providers suggest leaving earlier (for example at a 4-1-1 pattern). Ask your provider what they want you to do.
What if my contractions are 5 minutes apart but only 40 seconds long?
You haven't met the full pattern yet — duration matters. Keep timing; contractions typically lengthen as labor progresses. Call your provider if you're unsure or anything feels wrong.
Track your pregnancy with Lunera
Week-by-week baby development, due date countdown, widgets, and a one-tap contraction timer — free, private, and subscription-free on iPhone.
This guide is for informational and educational purposes only and is not medical advice. Lunera is not a medical device. Always consult your doctor, midwife, or healthcare provider with any questions about your pregnancy or labor.