Spotting and cramps

38w/4d. Woke up to pee at 3am and saw that I was spotting. Called L&D and they just told me to throw on a pad and call them in a couple hours or sooner if anything changes...woke up a couple hours later and still spotting but have menstral like cramps. Called L&D again to update them and was told keep an eye on the contractions and come in when they are closer together....