Experienced by millions, described differently by almost all, contractions are the not so subtle sign that your little one is finally on the way. Labelled as cramping, a gripping sensation, perhaps a wave of intense discomfort - different women feel them high, low, front or back. But what are contractions exactly, and why should you keep an eye on them as they develop? What are contractions? Labour contractions are actually the muscles in your uterus repeatedly tightening and relaxing as they physically prepare your body to give birth. They help the lower part of the uterus and cervix to relax and stretch, moving your baby into the birth canal for delivery. Why it's important to time them. As labour unfolds, contractions will increase in strength, start to last longer and occur more and more frequently. Keeping track of your contraction pattern is very helpful for your doctor and midwife. It gives a good picture of your labour progress, and can help your medical team to make timely, accurate decisions surrounding your delivery. Once your contractions are lasting around the one minute mark, and coming every 5 minutes, it's time to call your midwife or head to the hospital. How to track your contractions. When you're tracking your contractions, you want to know two things. How long does each contraction last? And how frequently are you experiencing them? Duration – Time of each contraction from beginning to end. Frequency/Interval – Time from the beginning of a contraction to the beginning of the next. Tracking your contractions with uGrow With your uGrow app, there is no need to go scrambling around for a pen, paper and a stopwatch. The handy contraction tracker lets you time and monitor your contractions, and even gives you an hourly summary of how things are going. All you or your partner has to do is press "start" at the beginning of a contraction, and "stop" at the end. Simple! Remember, every contraction brings you closer to life's little miracle!