If you call the hospital, they will most likely tell you to take a panadol and go to bed (very helpful I know, but that is the first advice they give at the Townsville Hospital anyway). You can also use a hotwater bottle if you need some help to ease the pain and let you sleep.
Walking is probably the most effective thing that you can do if you want to help labour along as it will help the baby's head press down on your cervix which will aid it in opening (stairs are especially good for this). Don't wear yourself out though. You should try to sleep if you possibly can (easier said than done).
It is usually better to try and hold off going to the hospital as long as possible. If you are still in pre-labour and they admit you, if you don't have the baby in the next few hours, they tend to offer more intevention rather than letting nature take its course. I went to hospital with DD because I ran out of hot water at home and the pain was too much to manage without it :)
So exciting . . . good luck with everything and I hope you are holding your baby in your arms by morning :)
