BTDT - Early Labour Progression

Just wondering how long it took for contractions to gain intensity for you. Labour with my first was induced and was almost 12 years ago so hard to remember when exactly contractions got noticeably stronger (other than after they broke my water). My other 2, I had c-sections so as soon as I was dilating and term out they came. I have an irritable uterus this time around so I'm used to regular contractions but this time feels different. They are 2-3 minutes apart and last 60-70 seconds and are much more painful than usual, but I can still talk through them. They've gotten closer together over the last 2.5 hours but not more painful. So how long might it be until they become painful enough to go in? I'm 33 weeks tomorrow so I am preterm but I've already had steroid shots and my doctors won't give me meds to stop contractions again.