Cramping - stopping and starting?

[TifosiGirl]

The last few days I've had a constant lower backache (like period cramps) but in the late afternoon and evening I'll have SERIOUS cramping in my lower back radiating around to my lower abdomen... they build up and become regular later at night. They were especially promising last night after my doc stripped my membranes. I've had some other symptoms of my body getting ready - loose stools and my mucous plug has been gone for over a week.

The problem is, I go to sleep and in the morning they're 95 - 100% gone. They start ramping back up during the day and follow the same pattern.

Is this normal? Anyone else experience this before labor?

ETA: I'm 41w6d

[featherstory]

Yes, this is what is happening to me right now, and it happened with my last pregnancy, but with the last one it wasn't nearly as bad until the night I went into full labor and gave birth early that morning.

This time, the back labor is more intense and it has been 2 nights now, but is mostly gone during the day. I'm thinking the baby could come any day now... I am 39wks1day.