I always hear people with more than one kid say they forget what it feels like but I don't think I will ever forget that feeling at least not my first time it was so bad I almost delivered in the car and almost no epidural. But yeah it's real they say to wait until 5 minutes then go but if you hit 4 minutes apart consistently and rising numbers definitely go lol I was 7cm dilated when I arrived contractions 1 minute apart for a good 30 minutes long story but I know to listen to my gut and not the nurse the next time lol..