I am awoken again

not by excitement or anxiety just because i am due to deliver in a few hours time, but by sharp sharp pains.. i think i can begin to 'appreciate' what are real contractions.. i don't know why but i cant lie down, as i lay on my side, the contractions with sharp cramps kicks in and it kicks in intensely and continuously.. its not as painful when I am seated or standing.. i often wonder why people say real contractions is like having menstrual cramps but in very sharp and intense way.. so much more painful than the normal menses cramps.. i always have menses cramps before pregnancy and i can recognise the pain and true enough the pain associated with contractions in pregnancy are so much more intense and painful... i really salute those ladies who can tahan without epidural or any pain killers and having to withstand such pains for few hours before baby arrival during natural birth!  For me, i already feel that the pain is getting abit unbearable that i am losing my sleeps.. With the kind of contractions kicking in, i guess its time for me to deliver very soon even if i am not going ahead with caesarean today.. but i still wonder what i am experiencing now, is it the real contractions or still braxton hicks?