Been having cramps and pains since last Thursday which I put down to pre-labour stuff.

Yesterday got a bit leaky (thought it might have been waters but not sure if its that or just watery dripy CM as there wasn't very much of it... still a bit leaky but nothing like yesterday so probably CM), and contractions which seemed to be regular except I didn't time because I didn't want to worry about it.

Shel came home and timed (of course lol) and at 6pm they were 10 minutes apart and about 20-30 seconds ... which surprised me as it didn't seem like they were that close together. I don't know if these are *real* contractions or not because they're very different to BHs but not very painful, right before one my heart starts beating really fast, and then the contraction is just tight in whole belly and a bit of a push/pinch down in my cervix area, and tight up into my ribs making it a bit tricky to breathe. At 9pm I started getting back pain, like someone had clenched their fists and were digging their knuckles into my back, but thee contractions themselves weren't painful as such, just tight and pinchy and leaving me breathless.

That went on all night, the backache slowly getting worse but I slept a little, just waking up every now and then to a very tight contraction.

Today the backache is constant, but the contractions still aren't very painful just a lot tighter and the pinch on my cervix is harder, and still roughly about 10 minutes apart and lasting almost a minute.

Ok, so with all of that... Shel keeps nagging me to call the midwife... I don't really want to because first of all I'm pretty sure all they'll say is I can either stay at home and wait it out or come in and be put on a monitor to watch the contractions and all that. Secondly, we have an appointment tomorrow at 2pm so I figure I might as well just wait it out, if anything like my waters break or it gets really painful we'll head off tonight but I can just mention it tomorrow?

Though with them being 10 minutes for so long, should I call? Thats my main question I guess... is it normal to just have contractions coming regluarly, getting stronger (but not exactly painful) but not getting considerably closer for almost 24 hours? I can't seem to find anything that says yes or no... Is it just one of those individual things, or should they be moving together by now? I really have no desire to go to the hospital right now because I'm comfy at home so I don't want to call and be told to come in and be monitored, but I don't want to do anything that might be dangerous for the baby...

What do you think? Should I call? Should I go in and get monitored? Or just wait til tomorrow or if something happens tonight?