I've been trying out the palpating method on my two females that I'm trying to breed this year, but there's one thing about the palpating method I'd like to get some answers to.

When palpating, starting from about half the snake i first feel something that i would describe as an empty stomach (they don't eat atm so it makes sense), then i get to the 'follicles'. Recently when i palpated i can feel that some of them feel bigger than the other ones, and that there's gaps between some of them?
I don't really know how to explain so I'll make an illustration:
Think that this is the snake --------------. And when i palpate her i feel what i believe is follicles like this: --**-*---***-. I always though that they lay next to each other , but because I'm not sure i thought I'd ask here.

Another thing, one of my females have lost weight during the breeding season (the other one have gain weight), is this normal ? Because i can still feel 'follicles' and from what I've heard they should gain weight while breeding?