So how on earth do you tell the difference? With DD, I woke up at 3am and just knew that they were contractions but then I was 40+13 and had started the whole induction process with a pessary 12 hours before. I'm currently 38+2 and am getting regular bands of pain around the base of my bump. Sometimes they encompass the whole bump but mainly its around the base. They've got to the stage where I'm going "oooh" each time one happens but not having to stop what I'm doing or anything. I haven't has a show (I did lost my plug gradually from 40+8 with DD), got lower back ache or anything else which suggests I may be in labour. However, since waking up at midnight and being unable to sleep, I have done a mound of ironing, two loads of washing, cleaned the kitchen & sitting room & am now contemplating attacking the playroom... is that nesting going into overdrive?
If it is the beginning of labour, I know I should go & get some rest but each time I go back to bed, I'm so fidgety & wide awake that I'm up again about 10 minutes later.