hmmm questions?!

Questions!!!!

On November 14th, 2012 ... I was seen at my Ob-Gyn's office... I was 37 weeks on the dot! I even measured 37 weeks too! I lost a lbs or something they said... they also informed me that I was 50% effaced and 3 centimeters dilated. Well it's now November 17th, 2012 and I'm worried... I haven't popped yet I've had some really bad contractions on 11.14.12 that disappeared but last two hours... so I just pushed them off to braxton hicks contracts and just let it go, now I'm worried that it dilated me further, I've had wacky discharge but nothing to warrant the BLOODY SHOW... since it was yellow, white and little brown...nothing that was red to say hello it's time... or that my water broke. 

Well here are my questions I'm doing research online to see if I can find some answers but yeah this is harder than I thought since no one really has an HONEST and STRAIGHT forward answer. 

1. since i'm 3 centimeters dilated and already 50% effaced will i end up loosing out on receiving the epidural that i want to get?

2. when does active labor truly start (with my youngest... once my water broke my contractions got fast and stronger with in hours and he was out quick)?

3. do they stop giving the epidural at a certain point in dilation?

4. what if i'm 100% effaced on Tuesday at my next appointment and 5 centimeters dilated can I ask to have my water broke & the epidural if they stop giving it around 6 centimeters...?

This is my third pregnancy...

with your first pregnancy you dilate about 1 centimeter an hour but with your second it is 1 1/2 centimeters dilation with your second ... well this is my third so I'm worried ...

So if you mother's to be or mothers already have answers to my questions please feel free to post on this cause I'd love to know ... that way I'm not completely stressing out...