Ok.. So.. When you have "real" contractions, does your lower back constantly hurt and you feel the contractions in the front come and go or.. Do they come and go together?

And do you have to lose your mucus plug to go into labor? I don't think I lost mine or maybe I did very little by little and just thought it was normal discharge. It was kinda a milky clear with maybe a little bit of thickness. Idk. I'm a ftm and this whole am I going into labor? thing is so confusing!