Back Labour

Has anyone had back labour and period cramps and sharp pains that I am assuming are contractions but they could not time them and actually ended up being in labour? I have had lots of back pain for all of yesterday and continuing through the night (bad enough that I couldn't sleep much) I am having a hard time telling if my belly is tightening like a contraction or if baby is just balling up and my stomach is getting hard from that. Should I go into maternity and see if I am actually having contractions or just hang out at home and wait it out to see if it turns into anything?