Are these proper contractions?

[MiauMau]

Can someone give me a bit of a guiding hand?
I'm pregnant with my first baby (38+2) and I'm away from my family so, really don't have anyone else to turn to in this country.
Today I've been getting these pains that start just below the bump and irradiate towards the back. They don't feel like a period pain, have a pattern or come in a wave. They're there, last for awhile and go all together with a very tight and uncomfortable bump. If anything I feel the bump become hard first and then the pain comes along.
Anyone has any ideas?

Try giving the midwife a call - 38 weeks counts as full term, so if you're getting unusual pains it might be best to talk to them.

In my experience, they don't mind talking to you and checking you out, even if it turns out to be nothing.

I know some people, including midwives, say that if it's a contraction you'll know, but when I had DS (first baby) I seriously didn't realise my contractions were contractions until my mum made me go to the hopital to get checked over.
I thought they were just really bad backache. No particular pattern. And then I felt kind of silly when I got told I was 3cm dilated and contracting

I agree that you should call the midwife as labour does vary from person to person.

They way you describe them as "irradiating" towards the back sounds contraction-like to me.

When you say they don't have a pattern, what do you mean? Not regular intervals? I'd fire up www.contractionmaster.com to see if it spots a pattern!

Good luck!

Hi miaumau, I'm also overseas and one more day pregnant than you! Went to the hospital this morning for routine check up and they stuck me on a fetel monitor (don't know why, think they do it for everyone) for half an hour. It turns out I had three contractions during this time. I did't realise... Just thought I was a bit uncomfortable as I was lying on my back. I agree with a previous poster that you should time them for a while and see what happens! Good luck!

Thank you everyone. The night was pretty calm (apart from the utter lack of sleep), no more pain. I'm going to see how the day goes and if it happens again I'll definitely call the labour ward.
WillCrossThatBridge I meant at no regular intervals, like you said. I had a couple at work and then another three at home, but very irregular