I hope someone can help me, as I have no clue!

On Thursday morning, about 10-10.30ish, I noticed my contractions (which had for the past week or so been on for 30-40s, off for 70-90s for an hour or so, then stopped), didn't stop after an hour or so, but got closer together. By 1.30 they were on for 30s, off for 30s and I had felt the baby move down - my bump has moved down too. The birth centre said it was early labour, not to worry or turn up, just call again if they hurt or my waters broke. The contractions then speeded up to on for 45s, off for 15s and by the evening they were on for 60s, off for 15s. (I hope this is making sense!)

Friday, still no baby, but I thought my contractions were about 2 minutes long, which can't be right. The baby is still moving, but not very much. I'm getting maybe 10% of the kicks I would have been getting just a couple of days before. However, this is still more than 10 a day so the baby is still alive, just muted down.

This morning (Saturday) I try and time things properly. My contractions aren't 2 minutes long, they're actually on for 45s, slightly off for 5s, on for 45s, slightly off for 5s, on for 45s, off for 15-20s. On the "slightly off" parts my tummy is still really tight, but the baby can move a little tiny bit.

Other symptoms are that I have backache (sort of period-like, but nowhere near as bad), a very low bump, when Liebling headbutts my cervix it doesn't hurt, I just feel a sort of bulginess happening, I have a headache. Think that's about it. Oh yes, I've had really, really runny poo for about a week. My show may or may not have happened on Tuesday, I'm a bit confused about that. And I've been nesting a bit - vacuuming (up to twice a day) and baking mostly now, but I've also wanted to go for a jog or do aerobics. I am trying to limit myself from doing the latter two, but I have loads of energy from somewhere. My legs do start twitching or going dead of their own accord and sometimes I get a shooting pain from my pelvis to my knee. My left knee has been out of it all week.

So, I am thinking it has been 47 hours since this started, is this just false labour? Or should I still be excited?

The contractions are painless, I can feel them, but they don't hurt. When they're going on I really don't notice them, it's only the start when the belly goes hard that I really notice. I mean, I'm still getting a full night's sleep! The only real pain is the back pain, is that normal?

Thanks for any ideas as to what's going on with this!