mild contractions all day?

[becausewecan]

hello everyone need some advice as a first timer! I'm 40 weeks +1 and had my usual 6 trips to the bathroom last night. I realised at about 6 am that I was getting regular waves of pain which is what had woken me up. It built up, peaked and then slowly faded away. Timing them they were about 10 mins apart for several hours but only lasted about 30-40 seconds and the pain was easily bearable. Once I'd got up though the intensity lessened even more and they got more infrequent. Could these be contractions or just Braxton Hicks? They started up again this afternoon but now only about 15 mins apart and still very mild. I had a show on saturday night and a little more this morning.
Obviously its far to early to think about hospital but could this be the start of labour?
I have a sore lower back too but think that's due to being sat on the birthing ball most of the afternoon!

A show, some regular aching/contractions and a sore back. I'd be packed and ready to go if I were you.

It may be early days especially if this is your first but there are plenty of ladies on here who have found themselves a lot further forward than expected.

Why don't you put all your stuff in the car and then call the maternity unit and describe the symptoms. At the least it will let them know you're getting close. They'll tell you what to do. Don't worry about being wrong, I rang them three times before I went in, once at 2am. They're used to it.

Good luck.