That sounds like how I started my labor with my first! My contractions started at about 2 am and lasted like that all day, and didn't start to get more consistent or intense until late afternoon/evening. It does sound like it could very possibly be early labor, but you get to play the "wait and see" game! Actually I didn't even look to see when you posted this, I wonder if things have progressed by now...hmmm! Sending happy healthy baby thoughts your way!

They feel different for every woman and every labor. My mom said hers felt like a tightening all over. For my first, they felt like bad menstrual cramps, then bad gas pains, then feeling like I was being stabbed repeatedly from all angles between my crotch and my stomach (horrible back labor). This time I had sharper pains that were concentrated down below. They hurt more but were somehow more bearable because they were more localized. I was able to endure it better but was still more than happy to have the epidural!

Anyway, what you are experiencing sounds like what I felt this time (a month ago today, to be exact), only mine started at 2-3 minutes apart. You may be in the really early stages where they're very irregular. They say you should call your doctor once they are 5 minutes apart for at least an hour, or, of course, if you have bright red bleeding or your water breaks.

Good luck! So exciting