38 weeks question...?

I am 38 weeks pregnant with my second child. My first is 9 1/2 and when i had her, my water just broke and i went into labor....i never had any contractions until after i was at the hospital.

Here is my question:

I have TONS of braxton hicks contractions....i had a U/S last week and the tech almost sent me to Labor and delivery because i had six of them in a half hour..but i've been having them for months...and they really aren't painful, so i assumed it was okay..

Well, last night i woke up to pee, and ended up with a buring sensation in my belly. My belly was also rock hard, but it didn't feel like contractions to me...almost more like one LONG contraction. Then i started feeling shaky and sick to my stomach...it was hard to lay down or stand up..

It went away after about 20 minutes and i went back to sleep and have since been fine...

would you say this is a sign that labor is very near?? I have no idea what to think!!