Any post-partum stories from moms that experienced constant BH in late pregnancy?

FTM, 39w5d. "Real" contractions are a mystery to me because I have been experiencing BH/prodromal labor since 37 weeks and currently feel like I just have one constant BH contraction every day. I experienced BH way earlier in pregnancy (prominently at the end of 2nd tri-ish) but didn't know that's what it was--I just thought the baby was pushing against my belly.

Sensations I currently feel (since 37w) is a very tight stomach in the evenings, constant pelvic pressure/heaviness, baby hitting my cervix often, intermittent nights/days with pelvic cramping that sometimes radiates to my back and legs. Sometimes it feels like a "wave" or has a roller-coaster-drop feeling, but nothing is organizing into a pattern, since it just feels like constant sensation.

At any rate, I'm wondering if there are any moms that can relate or speak to this from the other side. How did you know when you were finally in labor? Was it all actually doing something to progress labor?

Recent appointment I was not dilated, but cervix softening. Starting to feel emotional by the ambiguity of it and am so uncomfortable and exhausted by it...