Mucus plug question! But not TMI!

So about 5 weeks ago I had started to dilate and have lots of contractions which were stopped and haven't had any real problems since still having contractions and at times they are pretty intense..and at my 34 week appointment (im 36 weeks now) i was dilated to almost 2 cm and was 50% thinned out well anyways this started around 31 weeks..... well anyways around then I lost a big chunk of my mucus plug but it stopped and nothing came of it and I'm assuming it regrew itself back well now 4ish weeks later for the last 2 days I have been losing peices of it again! Could this mean that labor is close this time and things are actually going to happen? I know it's not always a sign of labor coming but it is a sign things are changing down there right?? Or am I wrong?? I'm a FTM so not sure... What was your experience with losing yours did labor follow close behind or was it just a random thing? This is the second time now I will have lost it or started to lose it..