am I just paranoid? preterm labor stories please!

I feel like I've been getting a ton of Braxton hicks contractions the past 2 days. I've tried timing them, but it's almost as if my stomach is constantly tightened and I'm having trouble differentiating. Plus I'm chasing around my 2 year old so I'm constantly distracted. This morning I'm starting to feel a very very faint menstrual like cramping. But nothing has been severe. I'm 32 weeks pregnant. I'm just wondering if preterm labor is like real labor (this is my second) where you KNOW it's happening. I'd love stories!