Braxton Hicks contractions getting more intense

What are Braxton Hicks contractions?
Braxton Hicks contractions are sporadic uterine contractions that start about 6 weeks into your pregnancy, although you won't be able to feel them that early. You probably won't start to notice them until sometime after mid-pregnancy, if you notice them at all. (Some women don't.) They get their name from John Braxton Hicks, an English doctor who first described them in 1872.

As your pregnancy progresses, Braxton Hicks contractions tend to come somewhat more often, but until you get to your last few weeks, they'll probably remain infrequent, irregular, and essentially painless. Sometimes, though, Braxton Hicks contractions are hard to distinguish from early signs of preterm labor.


By the time you're within a couple of weeks of your due date, your contractions may get more intense and more frequent, and they may cause some discomfort. Unlike the earlier painless and sporadic Braxton Hicks contractions, which caused no obvious cervical changes, these contractions may help your cervix "ripen" — gradually soften and thin out (efface) and maybe even dilate a bit. This period is sometimes referred to as pre-labor.


How can I tell the difference between Braxton Hicks and true labor contractions?
In the days or weeks before labor, Braxton Hicks contractions may intermittently become rhythmic, relatively close together, and even painful, possibly fooling you into thinking you're in labor. But unlike true labor, during this so-called false labor the contractions don't grow consistently longer, stronger, and closer together.

For the last 3 days now, I realized that the "practice" contractions have picked up in quantity and intensity. I started to feel them a few weeks ago when my belly tightens up but that was it. Maybe some light crampiness.
For the last few days now they really have gotten stronger and they get quite uncomfortable. Some of them are still light, some of them make me breath deeper until they fade off. I have them about 2-4 times an hour, sometimes they disappear for a few hours but most likely stay all day since yesterday.
I am sure I still have time to go until the real thing starts but it makes me nervous how things change over a few days.

37 weeks is considered as full term right??? ( nervous smile )