Labor pains..........?

I miscarried my first pregnancy in 2009. When I miscarried I had quite painful contractions while my body was expelling all of the pregnancy tissue. I'm now due to have a baby any day now and I'm wondering if labor pains will feel the same as the pains I felt when miscarrying? Also, I've lost my mucous plug and been cramping since, but since last night I've been having cramps doubled with pains that feel like I need to go to the bathroom but no matter what I do I can't go to the bathroom, the one time I did it was hardly anything and I still feel the need to go. Sometimes it's more painful than others, but it's not completely debilitating. Also, my back is very sore. The soreness spans across my whole lower back and I haven't felt it like this until this morning. And my hips have been hurting which the doctor said at my last appointment means they're separating in preparation for child birth. Does this sound like it could be early labor?