For me, it's alot of tightening and pressure, and makes it hard to breathe sometimes ! They don't really last long, and they are usually not painful. Just lots of pressure.

I’ve been told that I’m experiencing real contractions but because they are so short and I get them randomly, I don’t have to worry about them. But I do feel my hips throbbing afterwards, it’s like the contractions drain my body and I especially feel the pain in my hips

You can have them and be in the early stage of labor.

For me bh contractions dont but real contractions do ache.