I'm also 36 weeks and the doctor told me that when u feel contraction time them it has to be every five min to go in the hospital and they last 1 min. When u get a contraction the pain is so bad that u do wanna talk to none, feel like screaming or crying I hope that helps I'm also a ftm....
Contractions feel like period cramps while you dont really feel any pain with braxton hicks.