What happens if i start having contractions but i am not dilating?

Cervix effaces/thins: The cervix is normally thick through most of pregnancy, and usually many uterine contractions and physiologic changes are required to thin it (especially prior to the first delivery). It is important, however, for women to record contractions and keep their obs informed because an examination of the cervix by a trained provider can best determine extent of dilatation of the cervix/onset of labor.

Patience: Contractions almost always eventually progress to labor, usually after a few hours but sometimes it takes days or weeks of contractions to evolve in to active labor.