38 and 1/2 wks pregnant and have period like cramps, is this normal?

I am almost 39 wks and I had my membranes stripped on Monday and have been walking up a really big hill and today I have a steady like period cramps. I am high risk and my DR dose not want me to go ped my due date which is Oct. the 8th. I also tried taking a bath in clary sage oil. I have another appt on Monday the 1st which if I dont go into labor by then they want to induce on Thursday or Friday. Any ideas is this normal to have cramping and is this a sign of labor. I also have pressure and twinges in my . Anything else I can try to help labor along and please dont say , my husband isnt cofortable with that and neither am I. It hurts too much. Any help makes me very thankful.