For any pregnant/ past pregnant ladies

You can tell the difference when you have a baby at the end, LOL. Lots of late term women worry about whether they will know they're having contractions, and it's pretty glib to say yes, you'll just know, but hey, you'll just know.

One of the things that is quite unique about contractions is that they are regular. Random cramps etc. might be braxton-hicks or bowel spasms, but unless they're occurring regularly they are not going to produce a baby.

Hmm. It must be UC. It's like this tight pain that throbs in my abdomen

I didn't have a lot of contractions, I was induced. But the ones I did have were horrible! Not like UC pain, they were in my back and lasted longer, not shooting pains, more like a muscle pull pain. Like if you hurt your back and you bend over. Only it hurts way worse,lol.
But if you are in doubt always call the OB, I went to the hospital twice before i delivered. And I know it was silly, but like the nurse said it's better to go for nothing, than to not go and it be something.
And actually the first time, I was at like 34 weeks and I was having contractions, just not strong ones.
Another weird thing about when you have contractions and are dilating, it makes you feel sick, like fluish sick. Does that make sense? And like was mentioned, trust your instincts.

I had braxton hicks contractions for quite a while before I finally was in real labor but believe me they were very painful. I went to the hospital thinking I was in labor and was sent home both times. I had a bit of dialation but wasn't progressing. This was my third pregnancy and it sure was different from the other two. It was 2-3 weeks from the first time I was sent home until I had my daughter. Good luck...hope all goes well for you.