Pre-term labor or braxton hicks?

There isn't really any way to tell the difference between BH and PTL. Some people will say that BH don't hurt (they can) or go away (this is true, real PTL will result in the birth of the baby, but it can take a long time, and can come and go), that BH don't have any effect on the cervix (they can), etc. Basically PTL is very poorly understood unless there is an obvious cause, which only happens about 50% of the time. I would agree with Amy that getting it checkout out might be a good thing. Here are some of the things a midwife or an OB can look for:

with a manual exam, dilation or effacement of the cervix
with a vaginal ultrasound, shortening or funneling of the cervix (cannot be detected manually)
with a cervical swab test, called the fetal fibronectin test, they can look for the presence of a hormone that indicates labor might be approaching (only before about 34 weeks, and might not be as valid after intercourse or a prior manual exam)

You might be having BH or an "irritable uterus" but if your instinct tells you that something might not be right or needs to be checked out, please get it checked!

Also, your dh might be a great labor support person when he's no so scared that your baby is early! My dh went white as a sheet when my water broke at 36 weeks with our first. He just wasn't expecting her yet! He did much better the second time around.

I had contractions 2 minutes apart for periods of up to 8 hours straight for 5 weeks between weeks 30 and 35 last time. They were lasting up to 90 seconds long. My OB was sure I was in PTL. She even had me admitted for terbutaline injections (which did stop them temporarily) and put me on 5 weeks of bedrest. Yet, it never dilated me one iota. So, the only way you can tell if anything is really going on is to go in and get checked. Hopefully it's just non-productive stuff for you though

Jumping in from November... I'm glad you got checked and are doing ok. I had my baby after only one Bradley class! My water broke at 29 weeks (the day before the second class was supposed to be held), and my teacher came and gave us a crash course (mostly for DH) the following Sunday. They'd taken me off contraction-stopping drugs that morning, and my contractions started just before the teacher left that evening. 2.5 hours later, my baby boy was here! Even the one Bradley class and the quick crash course were really helpful though.

As far as DH goes... I think it's a normal response for him to want to get you to the hospital. I mean, if you were in labor at 31 weeks, you would NEED to be in the hospital (preferably one with a regional NICU if you have one nearby), so that's just a protective mechanism. He is worried about his wife and his child, and he wants to make sure that both are safe and healthy! Nothing wrong with that. Believe me, it's panic time for husbands when you're in PTL. My DH was GREAT in the delivery room (and prior to that, he advocated for me - getting those nurses to keep their hands out of me, since my water had broken). Hopefully your DH will be equally as useful if needed!

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this is EXACTLY what happened with my 2nd dd. although they never put me on bedrest. and i've started having ctxns again, they're pretty painful, but i can't tell if they're bh or ptl. i have an appt. tomorrow, so i'll ask then....

Just another "me too" as someone who has an "irritable uterus" (golly, I haaaate that term, can't we say something like "enthusiastic" instead?!).

I had ctxns starting at 25 wks with my first, 4 min. apart lasting up to 4 min. each and they HURT. Went to the hospital a couple of times, but they always went away and never dilated the cervix. Gave birth on my due date.

With my second, ctxns starting at 24 weeks, they were about 10 min. apart through the rest of the entire third trimester, sooo uncomfortable, and I gave birth at 38 wks.

This time, ctxns started at 23 wks. They are killer this time around, sometimes 2 min. apart, can't walk, can't breathe, they hurt like anything, and they are low. I frequently lose bladder control. I'm 33 wks and have a sneaking suspicion that I won't make it past 36, but we'll see. The midwife begs that I at least go full term

Some women have very enthusiastic uteruses and, in my case, big, healthy, enthusiastic babies! Stay positive, drink lots of water, rest whenever you feel them coming on, and trust your instincts. We're almost there!

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It is so hard to say. No one could believe I made it all the way to my due date with my first (neither could I, after all those ctxns and cramps!!). My 2nd was only 11 days early, and I really wasn't expecting that.

I'd say follow your instincts. I have a sneaking suspicion I'm good to go anytime after 36 wks, and I've had May 28th in my head a while (even tho I'm due June 10th). I'd say put some money on it vs. a friend, and collect on the pot when your maternal instincts prove true!