Contraction questions for mommies

Evening ladies! I have some questions about contractions because I'm so royally confused! So, I posted earlier about my trip to the OB yesterday morning. I had a cervix check- was 1/75/-2. After my appointment, I bled for quite a bit and stopped. Then, last night started having brown mucusy discharge and a few good sized clumps- I figured this may be what's left of my mucus plug?? So, anywho I've been having what I think are contractions, but I'm confused. They seem to start in my lower abdomin, my stomach gets rock hard, and I've gotten some lower back pain with pressure like I need to go number 2. It's also very easy to palpate the baby and where he is positioned as it is even harder there. How are we supposed to time these? I've been having them irregulary, but they seem to be coming more often, but not in any specific pattern. If I'm sitting, the seem worse, and if I stand up and walk I get even more pressure in my pelvic area. Are these BH? I'm so confused and so nervous as my dr hasn't really explained anything, A few weeks back, I had a BH in the office and the NP told me that's what it was. What I'm experiencing isn't enough to make me stop walking or talking, but at times they get soooo tight I feel like it's hard to breathe.

Any advice or info would be appreciated...I feel very lost and with this being my one and only time I plan on going through this, I really need any assistance you can give me! Also, why do I feel like the tightness is lasting a long time? I've read contractions are like 60 seconds, but I have the tightening feeling anywhere from a minute to a few minutes and all I know is it hurtssss!!!

Thanks ladies!

My labor contractions were super irregular (like every 3 minutes to 22 minutes) and lasted from 30 seconds to a minute.  It did feel like I needed to go the bathroom though.  When I went in I was 3 cm and 100 percent effaced.  Head was in 0 stage so they kept me :)  Hope this is it!

ps. I got my contractions closer together and harder by using nipple stimulation, it really works when you are already contracting.

It sounds like the real thing, or just really bad gas. Did you just eat a giant burrito? LOL
The pressure is probably the baby lowering in the birth canal & pressing on your cervix. If they are still like this in a couple hours, I would go to the hospital. For the meantime, just try to relax in bed. Don't worry about falling asleep....if it is real labor you will be up before dawn anyway. Are you leaking any clear or tinted fluid?

Oh do I wish I could have a big old burrito...used to love those things but ever since RNY...they bind me and make me so sore!! I know cus I take the risk every now and then LOL

As for fluids...I'm not noticing any fluids, but I did loose my mucus plug for sure...like a big old ball of snot when I went to the restroom this morning, and now when I'm wiping I'm having some light brownish colored mucus discharge still.

Oh boy!!! LOL

I had what you describe for a whole night and a day...chalked it up to BH but I knew it felt different...felt like I needed to go, so I sat down on the toilet and POP, my water broke - total movie experience...I gushed A LOT.  After that, the contractions became regular and within 5 minutes apart, 2 minutes apart by the time I got settled in at the hospital.  Unfortunately, my 9 lb 11 oz son was just too big to come down the birth canal, so I had a c-section after about 4 hours of labor.  

It really does sound like it's time...good luck girl!!!  
Excited for you!! 

Thanks so much yall!! I ended up going and laying down last night and the contractions seemed to subside. However, I woke up this morning and there's no doubt about it- I lost my mucus plug. My back is very achy this morning and I'm just going to closely monitor from here on if I start getting any stronger contractions or anything. Hubby and I took the chance as our possible last chance for awhile to BD and hopefully maybe that will kick the process into even higher gear...scary thing is- this is the date I picked for my guess on delivery day way back in like October :) 

Thanks again and I will for sure update when and if something starts happening!! YAY!

Keep an eye on that back ache, could be some back labor with the way baby was laying last time they checked. My mom had all back labor, never felt a realy contraction says it was all low back ache, then low back pain. Just keep an eye on it! Good luck!!