Hi mama! Those tigasan moments you're describing sound like Braxton Hicks, especially if they go away after a while, active labor contractions are usually regular, getting closer together, and hindi na tumigil kahit gumagalaw ka or nagpahinga ka pa. The pempem pain and feeling like you need to tae are super common near delivery, but since you're at 38 weeks pa lang, I'd really suggest calling your OB or going to your hospital para ma-check properly, kasi they can do an internal exam to see if you're actually dilating na. A few of us first-time moms din had similar worries at this stage, and honestly peace of mind from your doctor is worth it! In the meantime, time your contractions if they keep coming, if they're regular every 5 minutes lasting a minute each, that's more concerning, so definitely get checked out agad. Take care, mama!