Thank you in advance for anyone who can help me. I am trying to find some information for my little sister. She is 18 and just turned 37 weeks today (mon. Jan. 12, 2004). Tuesday of last week she went into the hospital with pains and we thought she was in labor. The doctor told her that she was three cm. Dilated and the mucus plug had came out. They told her to rest at home (we are about 5 minutes from the hospital) and when her contractions got a bit closer to come back. Then she was at about 14 minutes between contraction. They would get a bit closer then she could not tell the difference between the contractions and just straight pain (she is having alot of back pain). So this has been a week so far and nothing. I have been doing alot of research and everything I read says that it would be about 24 at the most that you could be dilated and then go into actual labor. Now my question, is this normal? Today she went to the hospital to be checked just to give her a piece of mind because she is very scared and the doctor on duty (which she dealt with at the visit to the hospital last week) told her to go home cause she was not in labor and she shouldnt be there. My personal opinion is the doctor is not being very professional, she did not let my sister ask one question or say anything. She just looked at her and said go home your not in labor. We are very confused to if this is normal. If someone could please help us out we would appreciate it. We are kinda in the dark, her doctors will not inform us or answer any of our question. Please just give us a bit of advice on what to expect during this and if all this is normal. Thank you so much for your help. It's just my sister, her boyfriend and me and I dont know what I should do.

Thank you!