lost mucus plug and super crampy

im 37 weeks and im 2cm and 70-80% effaced 0 station and im losing big chunks of my mucus plus today and i have consistent period like cramps along with what i believe are braxton hicks??? im not sure. sometimes theyre painful sometimes theyre not. my question is, is cramping normal after losing your plug or can it be a sign labor is near? (im aware that you can lose your plug weeks before labor)