Real contractions?

I am so so so confused as to if this is real or not....
I'll be 38 weeks on tomorrow, I was told 'Real' contractions get worse when you walk. That happens to me, BUT they lighten up a little when I sit. They don't got away but they aren't as intense... my mother says I need to go to the hospital and get checked because for the past couple weeks I have been in so much pain and discomfort and only been getting MAYBE 4 hours a sleep a night. I have a dr appointment Weds and am really unsure about calling or going to L&D and them tell me I'm just having practice contractions or that there's nothing they can do, and then they play the broken record with "Drink plenty of fluids, if they get worse and get close together." I know that's all they can do so of course I'm not upset about it! I just wish I knew what was happening so I could be prepared...   I was induced with my son and never experienced this so I'm just... so not sure because everything I read and am told seems backward to what's happening...  
I was 2cm dilated two weeks ago, no idea if that's changed and I've been walking more to help get things rolling so that was the goal but now I'm wondering if I'm just hurting myself instead of doing any good. Is it just the baby pushing down that makes it seem worse when I walk than when I'm sitting or are these real contractions? I've been trying to time them but I have a 2 year old and.... that is easier said than done :/

you need to time them. it seems like they aren't real yet. but that's jmo. they should be 3 to 5 minutes apart and lasting over a minute each. the intensity should stay the same or get worse, not lighten. but, idk. i guess you could always call and ask what they think. good luck!

Use the 5-1-1 rule. Contrations that are 5 minutes apart that last for a minute each over the duration of an hour. That's when to go in

It sounds to me like it's not QUITE labor yet. Actual labor contractions get stronger, closer together and are timeable.

You're in the home stretch now, Momma. Good luck!

my midwife told me if you have to question it chances are they arent real yet, and also that you wont miss labor lol BUT i was having irregular contractions for like 3 days before i actually gave birth so im not much of a help lol sorry mama  

Well the little man is going to bed soon, and they're still coming around so I'll be sure to pay closer attention and get them timed... I'm sooo hoping this is it   Thanks for the replies and advice, very appreciated