Prodromal labor?

Alison • Mama to two amazing boys and baby girl on the way!
This morning was my 3rd time at L&D this week. I'm 38wk 6days 3cm 80%effaced. This is my second and I know what real contractions feel like. Everytime I am laboring and contracting down to 3/4mins apart and they are painful. Hours and hours of this and then they just go away with no dilation progress. I am so frustrated and so drained. Has anyone else gone thru this and how long did it last before real labor came?