What do real contractions feel like?

Hi gals!

I’ve had tons of Braxton Hicks contractions and some cramping, but I don’t believe I’ve had any real contractions.

This evening, I felt like someone was pinching my uterus from the top and it did hurt a bit. The pain was intermittently sharp and nothing like a period cramp. Does this sound like a real contraction? Haven’t anything that felt like this again, but would like to know if I should be on the lookout for this feeling again 🧐