Contractions, contractions

And I don't mean the grammar kind, I mean the pregnancy kind.  

There are three kinds of contractions: practice, false, and the real thing. Practice contractions (Braxton Hicks contractions) can occur any time after the middle of your pregnancy (or not at all). A few false labor signs commonly lead up to the real thing, and practice contractions might help to get the cervix ripe — but they don't actually cause cervical dilation or effacement. The contractions of false labor are irregular and usually stop if you change positions. The contractions of real labor are identifiable because they:

• intensify whether you're still or active — standing, sitting, or lying down.
• become more frequent, intense, and regular. 
• may be accompanied by an upset stomach, cramps, or diarrhea. 
• may be characterized by pains in your abdomen or lower back (or both) and may be accompanied by pain in the upper thighs.
• 
  

My contractions have really stepped it up this week.  They are becoming more frequent and intense.  The one last night was a killer.  I couldn't breathe, my stomach hurt so tight,  and the amount of pressure made me feel as if I were dying.  It didn't help that I went into panic mode, thinking this was it and we needed to head to the hospital.  

It was all over in under 5 minutes and I haven't had that bad of one since, but they are happening more during the day and not just at bed time.  Your suppose to go to the hospital when the contractions come every five minutes and don't go away.   I have yet to reach that point.

I am hoping that this is a sign that baby is coming soon.  I never had this with Jake. I remember the contractions while I was already at the hospital, and they soon went away because I got an epidural.  I have a doctors appointment tonight, and maybe they can give some clue as to when this baby is coming.