Period like cramps

Emma • Expecting baby #1 January 4 2019 a beautiful baby girl and can not Wait to met her❤❤

I'm so confused how this works and my mother is make it seem more stressful that it should be. I'm 37 weeks and since Wednesday night I've been getting period like cramps I haven't lost my mucas plug but u also got a swab on Monday to check for the skin infection you get meds for before giving birth. I'm confused about it now