Am I having contractions?

Eb

I'm 40+1 today and I have been up since 5am (3 hours) with cramping pain in my hips and back. It's gradually comes on and lasts about 30-40 seconds it's happening every 9-12 minutes and they are definitely more painful than braxton hicks but still not agony.

Is this the start of labor? Or am I just getting my hopes up and I actually need to poop haha