Early Labour? FTM and unsure.

Wondering if anybody can help. Woke up last night with crampy period type pains to the point where in my sleepy state thought 'oh im getting my period' ha. Throughout the night they got worse and although i was able to fall asleep, they did wake me up and make me want to curl in a ball. It comes in waves and is nothing i can't handle... just feels like i am about to get my period with the pain going into my lower back and feels like i need to poop. I don't feel like i am contracting at all as the pain is so low. I also lost my mucus plug earlier.

Could this be the early stages of labour? I am 40+3 weeks so keeping my fingers crossed.