Digestive pains/BH or contractions - how do you know?!

[Smerlin]

Am 39+2 and for the past three nights have had some abdominal twinges during the night but not sure what they are!

Haven't had Braxton Hicks throughout the pregnancy and not sure if these pains are BH starting.

My digestive system has been a bit crazy since 38 wks - going to the loo a lot and very gassy so could just be that!

Just wondered how to tell as every tin do get these pains I get excited and then it's nothing!

Bh and contractions your bump usually tenses up and goes hard, gas is pain
Bh are irregular and supposed to be painless, I feel this is wrong as iv had some painful uncomfortable ones, but labour is regular and the contractions get closer and stronger, but it differs from woman to woman x

I'm not entirely sure! I have had a good few pains - some of which coincide with a tight bump, others involve a trip to the bathroom soon after (sorry!). Not had the labour ones yet.....

Everyone tells me that I will just know when it is labour pains however. I'm hoping this is the case!