Abdominal Cramps & Labor: What to Know

Question
I have been having strong painful cramping in my abdomen for the last two days, they have been getting intense and to the point I want to drop to my knees, could I be in labor?

Answer
Which pregnancy is this? If this is the first pregnancy, when you start to have contractions at the level of your belly button that occur every 3 mintues (from the beginning of one contraction to the beginning of the next contraction) and each contraction remains hard for at least 45 second, and all of this continues for a full hour, we consider you to have started labor. At that point, you should be examined. If your cervix is dilated to more than 3-4cm, you will be admitted to the hospital. If this is  not your first pregnancy, we wait until contractions are 6-8 minutes apart at the level of the belly button. All other criteria remain.