contractions....real thing or BH?

i posted this in pregnancy issues, but for some reason it didnt pop up there...

okai ladies...here's the deal

lately ive been getting these intense pains in my lower back. they are not consistant, but they do NOT get better when i move around...almost feels like it gets worse. the pain starts in my lower back and then kind of radiates to the lower sides of my abdomen. it doesnt last very long, but it is PAINFUL.

i had quite a few last night. the first one woke up me at about 4 am, after it was over i went into the bathroom, cause sometimes it feels like i might have to *use* the bathroom(KWIM?)but nothing happened and i went back to bed...well once i got back in bed i had a couple more but were much less intense than the first one...i was eventually able to go back to sleep only to be awakened again at 7 by another really bad one. i dont really know how long they last, but last night and this morning it seemed like i had 2 or 3 right on top of each other

ive looked in my books and online and they break down BH vs REAL contractions, but i seem to have some of each (ie them not getting better when i change positions, them starting in my back = real; but then they are not consistant and the intensity isnt the same all the time = BH)

so would you say these are real contractions or braxton hicks?

im going to be on base later today and was wondering if i should pop into L&D to see whats going on? i cant call my OB cause the only number i have is to the babyhotline(which is closed on weekends, go figure) and for the front desk(which is ALSO closed on weekends)

so what do you think? real or false? and does it warrent a visit to L&D?

i think the main characteristics that tell if its real or not is 1) they need to be getting steadilly closer together, not irregular at all 2) they need to be progressively getting stronger and stronger

if tey aren't doing the two of those i would assume they aren't real contractions because they are supposed to have a clear cut real pattern that takes place