38 weeks cramping

Is it normal to feel completely uncomfortable and crampy but not be in labor? My first pregnancy I felt great until the day i went into labor when I experienced cramping for the first time. This pregnancy ive had cramping off n on every few days but today is the worst of it. I just need to kno if this is normal to feel awful and uncomfortable for the rest of this pregnancy. I assume until i feel real contractions where I can't walk or breathe then to just assume its not labor. I was only 1/2 centimeter at my last appt and she still hasn't dropped but I feel awful and the cramping is freaking me out.