Hello, and i hope I can help you today. Some irregular contractions as well as increased vaginal discharge are definitely symptoms associated with your body preparing for labor. A vaginal exam performed at your checkup can sometimes cause your cervis to release mucus, which is the likely explanation for the sticky fluid you have noticed recently. Signs that real labor has begun include regular, painful contractions (painful enough that you need to catch your breath) that are at least every 5 minutes for 2-3 hours, or any heavy vaginal bleeding (like a period) or if your water breaks (which is a trickle or gush of thin, watery clear or white fluid that is enough to soak through your clothing). Not feeling the baby move at all for two hours or more should also prompt you to contact your OB provider or be seen in the hospital. But for now, the symptoms you are experiencing are not yet labor, but it is most likely that you will experience labor on or slightly after your due date. I hope I was able to adequately answer your question today and that my advice was helpful. Best wishes and good luck with the rest of the pregnancy, Dr. Brown