Start of Contractions?

So today I was having some normal Braxton Hicks then a few minutes later all of a sudden I felt something way different. This is my first baby (I’m 37+2) so i don’t know what real contractions feel like, but instead of it being all across my whole stomach like usual, it was all in my lower abdomen like period cramps. I could tell they were different because instead of it being one continuous contraction that stays the same like BH it started off mild and then gradually got stronger and stronger then tapered off. It lasted for about 25-30 seconds and then I had about 5 more of those within 5 minutes. I know this isn’t ACTUAL labor, but could this mean it’s close to starting? Has anyone else experienced this?