Period like cramping with back pain and upper abdominal pain

Beth

I’m having period like cramping down low that is constant however I’m also getting pain in my lower to mid back and upper abdomen. The back and upper abdomen is coming and going every few minutes. (Haven’t started timing officially cuz I was just blowing it off for the last hour as normal Braxton Hicks but I’m sitting here wondering if it’s real contractions I’m feeling. I can’t tell if my stomach is tightening or not but definitely feels like tightening in my back and it happens probably every 3-4 minutes for a good 45 seconds. Should I be timing these? Does it sound like labor may soon be starting? 36 weeks today..