30 weeks- 1cm dilated and 50% effaced

I am only 30 weeks along and 1 cm dilated and 50% effaced. I went in yesterday to be checked out because I was having contractions all day. By the time I got in I wasn't having painful contractions anymore just alittle uncomfortable but when the doctor checked me out I ended up being dilated, and the machine said I was still having contractions although I didn't know these were they weren't painful just thought the baby was being very active. They say my baby is very healthy and I was gonna see my own doctor on friday to be checked out. But I wasn't put on anything to stop it how do i know if I'm having contractions or not when I didn't even know when I was in and on the machine that keeps track? I'm taking it easy though. I'm just curious why it would be doing this and just how "taking it easy" I should be? Do you think I will end up having my baby early? Is this normal?