Childbirth: how to recognize a false labor?

You know your in a bad place when you WANT to have contractions and be in REAL labor. I know its going to be painful, but at least it means baby wil be here soon and there's light at the end of the tunnel. Right now it's waiting game. Or these FALSE labor pains which aren't even real thing! ?

Thought I was bout it bout it and call myself walking to the corner store almost had a heatstroke AND DAMN NEAR WENT INTO LABOR now my ass sitting in the hospital with high blood pressure and false contractions ???‍♀️all I wanted was some pickle chips and a Coke ?

Well false labor sucks. I'll never complain about Braxton Hicks again ??

Ok so, it’s my first pregnancy, I am currently 37 weeks and 3 days. I have an appointment on Thursday to have my cervix checked and an ultrasound because due to my type 2 diabetes they were wanting to induce me on Friday. I had sex with my fiancé on Sunday evening and experienced some bright red bleeding on the toilet paper after. Yesterday I had a pedicure. Both things rumored to start labor, right? So, yesterday about 4 separate times I experienced some menstrual like cramping in my lower abdomen and some back pain. Last night, 4 more instances of those cramps but more painful, but was relieved after passing gas. I have had a rough time with the iron supplement they have told me to take. Yesterday the blood on the toilet paper had tapered off by early afternoon but later in the evening I used the restroom and there was dark blood that looked slimy. A friend of mine told me it’s most likely bloody show. There was a decent amount. Over the course of last night there was small amounts on the toilet paper whenever I’d use the restroom. It had stopped this morning but just started again. I called labor and delivery and spoke to a triage nurse. She told me it sounds like I could be in early or false labor. My doctor emailed me back and said I should be good to wait until my appointment on Thursday to get checked out. I am feeling tight. The cramping in my lower abdomen has been continuing all morning, with occasional what I assume are contractions making my belly tight, but also if I get up and move around it kind of just stays tight. I am drinking water and trying to just rest. My fiancé told me to listen to the doctor, as friends are giving conflicting answers. I am well aware my friends and family are not doctors and obviously listen to my doctors and my body.. just wanted to pick some kinds of women who might know something different than my circle.

I have been having period like cramp across my pelvis for the last two hours, I took Tylenol but it didn’t work. Is this false labor? And how long should that last because the pain has been constant.