Is this the real thing or just Braxton Hicks?

[GoTheDistance]

I'm 40+2, been having some brown discharge for a couple of days and pretty sure my mucus plug came away about 2hrs ago. Since then, I've been having tightenings and bad back pain (lasting around 1min each every 7-8mins).

I don't want DH to leave work if this is just BH and they stop.

It could be. Maybe wait another hour or so and see if they increase in length and time apart.

Sounds pretty real! Keep track of the contractions.

Go for a half hour walk - if they get better = BH, if they get worse = the real thing.