False labor

I’m 36 weeks and last night it started with a ton of pressure, like couldn’t lay down any way felt like the baby was in its way out. Then hours ans hours of painful more than menstrual like pains. I could hardly lay down, couldn’t sleep and nothing helped. I wasn’t sure if this was going to be the real deal but decided to just wait it out. If it got so bad it was hard to talk or breathe it’s real? - I wonder if this means labor is near or just false labor. I was checked last week and didn’t have any dilation progress.