Contractions?!

For several months my doctor has asked at every appointment whether I've started feeling contractions. Each time I answer the same way: I don't think so, but I have no idea what they would feel like.

(A quick point of clarity for those unfamilar - it is totally natural to feel contractions throughout pregnancy, 'they' say it is your uterus practicing for labor.)

This weekend we had dinner with some friends of ours who are also expecting. During the conversation she asked me the same question, I gave my answer. She, however, followed up with a helpful indicator - if you put your hand on your belly button and feel the area harden for a short period of time, that is a contraction. I went home and hit the books for more information and found similar descriptions.

And wouldn't you know it, I've been having periodic contractions for months. Only I always thought it was the baby's head. How would I know any differently? First of all, they are painless. And there is so much action going on down there with pointy parts and round parts, I just thought it was another shift in position. But with this new info, I'm positive they are contractions.

Not surprisingly, I'm completely facinated by them.

Why do you think my doctor never gave me this little diddy of a hint?

I'm going to get the full story at my appointment this week but until then, I'm touching the belly even more than before, and admitedly checking to see if there is any regularity in them...