Privacy policy

Effective 15 October 2026

The short version: Ripple keeps everything on your phone. We don't have accounts, servers that hold your data, ads, analytics or tracking. We can't see your contractions, your birth story or your photos.

Who we are

Ripple is made by L.T Austin & M.J Carter, a partnership based in Australia ("we", "us"). You can contact us about privacy at support@rippletimer.com.au.

What Ripple stores, and where

Ripple stores the following only on your device, inside the app's private storage:

Contraction start and end times, and the strength you choose
When you log your waters breaking
Your hospital bag checklist (including items you add) and the midwife or labour ward phone number you enter
Your birth story: your baby's name, date, time, weight, length, place of birth and the words you write
Photos you choose to add to your birth story. Ripple saves a resized copy and removes location and other camera details (EXIF data) from it
Your settings, such as night mode, timer style and breathing pattern

Some of this is health information. We treat it as sensitive, and that's why it never leaves your phone unless you choose to share it.

What we don't collect

We don't ask you to create an account.
We don't use advertising, analytics or tracking tools, and we don't include third-party SDKs that collect data.
We don't sell, rent or share your information with anyone.
We don't access your location, contacts or your whole photo library. When you add photos, iOS only gives Ripple the photos you pick.

When information leaves your phone

When you share it. If you copy a summary, export a PDF or create a backup file, it goes wherever you choose, such as Messages, Mail, Files or AirDrop. That service's own privacy terms then apply.
Phone calls. The call button opens your phone app with the number you saved. Ripple doesn't record calls.
Texts to your midwife. "Text midwife" opens your phone's Messages app with your labour summary filled in. Nothing is sent until you tap Send yourself, and the message goes through your phone's own messaging service, not through us.
Purchases. Premium is bought through Apple's App Store (or Google Play on Android). Apple or Google handles the payment, including redeeming gift or offer codes. The app checks with the store, on your phone, whether Premium is unlocked. We never receive your name, Apple ID or card details; we only see the anonymous sales totals Apple and Google give every developer.
Device backups. If you use iCloud Backup or a similar service, your phone may include Ripple's data in its backup. This is controlled by your phone settings and your backup provider, not by us.
Crash reports. If you've agreed to share analytics with app developers in your iPhone settings, Apple may send us anonymous crash reports. They don't include your labour data.

If we ever add a feature that sends data to a server, such as live sharing with a birth partner, we'll update this policy first and ask for your clear consent inside the app before anything is sent.

Activity log

To help find faults, Ripple keeps a short activity log on your phone (for example "contraction started", "PDF exported", or an error message), with your app version and iOS version. It never contains names, notes, phone numbers or photos. It stays on your phone unless you choose Settings → Activity log → Share with support, and you can clear it at any time.

How long we keep it

Your data stays on your phone until you delete it. In Ripple, go to Settings → Your data is yours → Delete all data to erase everything, including photos. Deleting the app also deletes its data. Because we don't hold a copy, we can't recover it for you, so make a backup file first if you want to keep it.

Your rights

Under the Australian Privacy Act, and laws such as the GDPR if you live in the UK or EU, you have rights to access, correct, export and delete your personal information. You can do all of this yourself in the app:

Access and export: Settings → Your data is yours → Export a backup file
Correct: edit or delete any entry in the Log or Keepsake
Delete: Settings → Your data is yours → Delete all data

If you have a question or a complaint, email support@rippletimer.com.au. If you're not happy with our reply, you can contact the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (oaic.gov.au) or your local data protection authority.

Children

Ripple is made for adults who are expecting a baby. It isn't directed at children under 16, and we don't knowingly collect information from them.

Changes to this policy

If we change this policy, we'll update the date at the top. If a change affects how your data is handled, we'll also tell you in the app before it takes effect.

Not medical advice

Ripple is a timing aid. It doesn't diagnose anything or replace your midwife, doctor or labour ward. Always follow your own care team's advice.