Labour/contraction timing apps recommendations please!

[suladb]

Hi - I'm due any day now. Does anyone have a good app they've used to time contractions? I'd be really grateful for a recommendation a there seem to be loads of them. Something quite easy as I'm chronically non-techy! Thank you!

S x

[Lookinatu]

I used contraction timer with a orange clock with a smiley face above it. It really helped as my contractions were all over the place

[MidMay]

Why do you feel you need an app OP? Genuine question.

[suladb]

Just got told by a few people that it helped them through to have the app as they could see the next contraction coming and get themselves prepared. I know women have done this for thousands of years without modern technology but it seems silly not to use what's available if it helps?

[MidMay]

Thanks for replying. As a midwife my experience is that women and their partners can sometimes get a bit hung up on these apps and get disillusioned if contractions start and stop which can be the case for hours or even days initially.

[JolieColombe]

What kind of phone OP? I'm an iPhone user and got Contraction Timer by Penguin Apps as I wanted something fairly basic (and free ). I know it's not a necessity but DH and I are both analysts and like measuring things . It was good seeing the distances gradually shorten too, but I stopped once I got to the hospital as things started moving quite quickly!

[Lules]

I really liked having one (but I can't remember what it was called sorry! I think they are all much the same anyway). I use technology for everything so it seemed natural to use it for this. Also they tell you to come in when contractions are however long apart and I wouldn't have had a clue without it. And it gave me something to do in early labour, apart from getting my husband to get me in and out of the bath numerous times in the middle of the night!

[Mrscog]

I found mine very useful, and thanks to a midwife like Midmay being so dismissive I nearly had DS2 in a toilet.

[happydays00]

The Aptamil app was recommended to me , not used it yet as not due for another 3 weeks

[MidMay]

Mrscog I was not dismissive at all and am genuinely interested in how technology can help women cope especially if it means they can remain out of the clinical environment for longer. In my experience some women can become disillusioned when an app tells them a contraction is due when during the early stages contractions are irregular.

[Flisspaps]

I agree with *MidMay.
*
Also, if you're like me your ctx won't fit the standard pattern (mine were 3 mins long and every 6-7 minutes for a LONG time with the odd one every 4 minutes) so the app would have been a waste of time.

[Mrscog]

Sorry midmay I was rude. I'm just still bitter about what should have been a lovely calm straightforward birth ending in panic and almost zero pain relief (ie I wanted gas and air for the tough bits) just because I'd been having regular contractions into my bum for 2 hours but was told not to come in, despite it being my second and I knew it was the real deal. I really wanted to use a pool and it just didn't happen because I was fobbed off.

I'm so sorry for taking it out on you.

I found the timer useful becuase I just hit a button and it timed it - as I progressed into the labour I couldn't concentrate myself on times/frequency anymore but I could just about hit a button to stop and start and then the phone did the maths :)

[suladb]

Thanks guys for all your input. I do appreciate it. I can see the ups and downs to using an app (i-phone) but think on balance I'd like something on hand in case I find it useful. Like some of you've said, it will give me a focus in early labour. All input greatly appreciated! S x

[insertimaginativeusername]

I used one...search "contraction timer" on App Store and it's the first one, pale green logo of a baby.

It doesn't tell you when to expect the next one, just for timing interval and length of contractions. Ended up being particularly useful when DC2 contractions slowed down dramatically when all was going well and then he stopped moving.

[MidMay]

Mrscog no offence taken and you make a really important point which I try hard to keep at the forefront of my practice - midwives should always listen to women, as without you we are redundant.

Good luck OP.