Contractions?

Abby
Ftm here & needing advice. Im 34 weeks. I have absolutely no idea what to expect when it comes to contractions. I don't know what they will feel like & I could have them & not even know it. I've had what feel like terribly awful period cramps all day. Within the last hour they have gotten terrible & now I have bad back pain. I took a bath, propped my feet up, drank water. It is pretty constant, it doesn't let up enough to time them. Is this braxton Hicks? Or for real? Anything will help!