38+2 weeks

I’ve been told I’m in early labor. Which can last days or weeks majority of women don’t even notice they’re in early labor. Well, my cramps are kinda regular. But I have no tightening so cramps that come and go in my lower abdomen. Is this a contraction? Can you have contractions without tightening? If so, I think I need to time these. They aren’t painful, I can talk walk and breathe through them. But I’m just curious as to what this is.