Signs of labour? please help people...?

hi i have been getting a few mild pains today roughly about an hou and a half apart im just wondering could this be the start of labour? i also have backpain thats not going away...... and a few period like pains but i was told by my midwife that they are just practicing contractions in my pelvic area...... what sort of signs did u get wen u were going into labour please help....