Contractions?

Everyone has said that their baby was less active when they were in labor? Is this always the case? Feel like I keep having contractions, they last for a min each but aren’t consistent. However baby is active until my stomach gets hard. Pain is manageable. My back hurts and my stomach gets tight, baby stops moving( at least I can’t feel him) then after he will move... is this contractions or something else? Tomorrow’s my due date so I’m hoping is the start 🙏🏼