Diarrhea pain vs contractions

Maria

So I’m only 17 weeks pregnant but I get a lot of diarrhea cramps without actual diarrhea. With my first I was induced and my labor felt like really bad diarrhea cramps. I remember being terrified to get an epidural because I felt like I had to go to the bathroom but I wouldn’t be able to tell anymore with the epidural and didn’t want to crap myself 😂. So my question is, how will I know the difference between contractions and these cramps I’m feeling? Hope that makes sense