Thanks! I know some women never get them, and I was so curious as to how women know the difference!
Actual contractions will be more consistent (maybe every 10 mins), they will probably last longer and start to get more intense. The first few can feel like Braxton hicks but not for long :) I've never confused them, somehow I could just tell it was labour. (I did confuse them for diarrhoea cramps for an hour or so though before I realised they had a pattern of every 15 mins)