I've been having these contractions and was wondering how to tell the difference between Braxton hicks and the real thing?

Also wondering about pain relief during labour, i'm 18 and this is my first baby, so i have absolutley now idea about what i'm about to go through, or what i should do during a painful contraction, i would like to avoid an epidural if i can [-o< (don't like the idea of a big needle going into my spine) and just curious to know how other women dealt with pain during labour.