I had pre labour for a week with DS. Only at night and regular contractions. It was pretty bad. I had no real sleep for that long and DH had to take time off work by the Friday (DS was born Sunday) because I was such and emotional wreak. I rested on the lounge and tried to do little things around the house that I could like putting washing out and folding....just to try to keep my mind off things. Things got really bad on the Saturday and I was in and out of the shower/bath all day, and ended up going to get panadein forte from hospital. I think now that I was in real labour on the Saturday arvo/night. When I went to hossy on the Sunday evening I was 8cm dialated and bubs was born with in an hour of my waters being broken!!
Good luck hun.