Contractions vs false labor

I am 38 weeks and 3 days with 4th baby. I keep having contractions not too painful but enough to be annoyed by them. I am not ever ready to have this baby. My first 2 were late, my third was 9 days early. How do you know if it’s the real deal or just false alarm? My hubby is at work and asking if he should come home to help me with my 3 other kids ages 8,4,2. Idk. Has anyone just gone into full blown labor without any other sign? Haven’t lost mucus plug and haven’t been checked for dilation yet.

Pic is for attention