Braxton Hicks????

Valerie • I am a first-time mommy with a baby boy, Nicolai. Being a mommy to be has been the hardest and the most joyful thing I am experiencing and have yet to experience.
I am 31 1/2 weeks pregnant. I will be 32 weeks pregnant on Wednesday. Lately I have been experiencing "Braxton Hicks" or so I think, but this morning I woke up with my belly really hard and with pressure around my hip area and right in the middle of my vagina... is this normal?? This is my first baby and I am clueless about what's normal or not and lately I've been paranoid with the pressure I've been feeling.