Understanding Labor Signs: 37 Weeks Pregnant?

Question
I am 22, i have a three year daughter by early cesarean section. I am now 37 weeks pregnant and had a show 15 hours ago acompanied by niggly pains on and off, I have constant backache and my bowels keep emptying, is this early stages of labour?

Answer
If this is your second pregnancy, you will soon start to have contractions at the level of your belly button. When you have contractions that occur every 6 minutes (from the start of one contraction to the start of the next contraction) and each contraction remains hard for at leastr 45 seconds, and this continues for a full hour, we consider you to be in labor.  You can wait for this if you are planning to have a VBAC. However, if you are planning to have a repeat cesarean section, you should call the doctor as soon as you start having regular contractions.