Do "true" contractions have to happen all over your belly?

Jordan
I've been having horrible lower back pains today. It radiates from my lower back, around my hips and into my lower to mid belly. TONS of tightening in my belly that are getting more and more painful. I'm miserable. Hurts to walk or move around. My mom keeps telling me that my contractions have to be from the bottom of my boobs all the way down to my crotch. Was that NOT true for anyone who have had their babies already? I'm curious. SO ready for my son to arrive. Almost 39 weeks.