2-3cm dilation pero makapal pa daw ang lining

Hi mumshy, I have 3 concerns here... 37 weeks pregnant na po ako, and I just had my check up earlier at as per OB 2-3 cm na daw, pero makapal pa daw ang lining ko so parang hindi pa din daw ako maglabor, ano po advise nyo para mapalambot or mapanipis yung lining ko para magprogress na po ako? Then nakakaramdam na ako ng contractions pero tolerable pa talaga sya, though inoorasan ko kung gaano kalimit, kaso minsan hindi ko talaga madistinguish din kung contraction ba sya, is it counted yung parang paninigas ng tiyan kasi gumagalaw si baby, and yung kapag naiihi ka? Third question po is, kelan po kayo nagpaswab test, since 14 days validity lang yung swab test,, I do not want to repeat it po kasi sayang naman, so donyou habe any advised kung kelan pinakamaganda magpatest? TIA #1stimemom #pregnancy #firstbaby #advicepls