Wishful Thinking?

Starting last night, I was feeling some very low back aching each time I woke up to go to the bathroom. Today, I had more aching, mostly a constant dull ache, with intermediate periods of intensification. Then, tonight as of about 4:30 or 5:00, I started to feel the back pain intensify with stronger contractions that feel like Braxton Hicks, though stronger and lower in the front of my abdomen. I don't usually get menstrual cramps, but the few times I have they've been of the shooting variety. The contractions I'm feeling are strong tightening sensations that feels uncomfortable and I certainly don't like it, but I wouldn't so much say they're like menstrual cramps.

We've started to time them, but I'm trying to decide if I think this is for real or just wishful thinking...