Been having contractions that are 5,6 minutes apart and really painful (from my lower stomach to my lower back) since 4 this afternoon. Hoping it is thinning my cervix and dilating me. Not sure when I'm gonna go to L&D. Going to try and wait as long as I can because I'm only 1cm and 60% effaced and my water hasn't broken or I haven't lost my mucus plug that I know of.