First time mom questions

I'm 32 weeks pregnant today and have been in pain all last night and today even, I wanna say they're contractions but I'm not sure what they are supposed to feel like? I also read online that you poop a lot right before labor starts and I've pooped about 4 times daily, if not more, the last few days. TMI, I know... I've gone to the hospital before and everything was fine so I don't want to go in today and be told everything's fine and look stupid, but I don't want to be starting preterm labor and not know it. Any mommas have any advice or answers? Did anyone else poop a lot before labor?