In labor?

I really hate sounding stupid, especially with this being my second full term pregnancy, but oh well...

I know pregnancy is different for everyone! With that being said... with both of my full term pregnancy I have had Braxton hick start very early. I honestly cannot tell the difference between true and false contractions. With my son, who will be two next month, I literally guessed that I was in labor and went to the hospital at the right time.

At my check up last week (Wednesday) doctors words, “you’re 2cm, almost 3cm dilated and he’s in a great position, all ready to go!”

Last night, starting around midnight I couldn’t lay down and barely could sit, contractions (not sure if true or false) in a lot of pain, stomach and back hurting, couldn’t eat, throwing up, felt like I kept needing to throw up, the feeling of having to pee/poop all the time, whole body feeling achy, could not and didn’t sleep, etc...

I just don’t want to go or be in the hospital if I don’t have to. With everything going on with the virus/world and because my son has special/mental disabilities, so it’s already going to be hard when I actually do give birth to be away from him.

Just wondering what some for sure signs are that I’m in or about to be in labor? And I’m being crazy?

Sorry for the long post, but thank you in advance!