As Marcellus says, I think everyone feels them differently. I didn't feel anything at all with my first, and with my second they were barely perceptible...I would think 'is that something' and touch my belly and it'd be rock hard. The period like cramping is what my contractions felt like a bit, so I'd say they're BH's too? The stretchy tight feelings are sort of more what I experienced, although I hardly felt them, they definitely were doing something!