Could this be it? or just bh?

for the past three days ive been getting really bad cramp-like pains in my lower uterus twice a day. this evening i started getting a sharp pain in my cervix and then a contraction. it started two hours ago and they started getting closer together and a bit stronger with each one and some back to back. but here's the thing, there is no "show" nor plug...and ive been watching the clock and it seems as if theyre lasting a couple minutes each. could this be true labor? or just braxton hicks contractions? if bh, do you think i may be getting close to labor???