difference between mucus plug and bloody show?

[ex-stasis]

Is there a difference? I woke up at 5am this morning with some crampy contractions around 10 mins apart and some pinkish jelly-like discharge. Contractions are still going at around the same rate and intensity, I'm still bleeding (sometimes pink sometimes red, but not a lot), but it all feels like not much so far. But is it the beginning maybe?

I'm scared to tell DH because he's stressing out with work already and I don't want to freak him out unnecessarily if this is nothing? I read that you can lose your mucus plus a week or so before real labour begins... so I'm just wondering whether this is what's going on, or what?!

[Mama Bee]

The jelly-like discharge sounds like your plug. My midwife went another 2 weeks after losing her mucus plug. However, with DS #1 I went into labor just a few hours later. I'm a little unsure about the question, though, b/c I've wondered the same thing. I *think* I remember bleeding during labor last time... just a little... like a period... that was different from my mucus plug. Again, though, I can't remember exactly. Hopefully, someone more knowledgable will chime in. Good luck, mama!!!

[ex-stasis]

It is a bit confusing. When I woke up at 5am I had the jelly-like discharge, but after that it became more like a light period.

Hum. I guess it's probably safe to just judge by the frequency and intensity of contractions instead of mucus or show. So far contractions are not very frequent or intense.

[MamaTaraX]

Sounds like mucous plug to me and if you had some form of light bleeding too, that sounds like bloody show. Those are excellent signs that labor is beginning, begun, or otherwise iminent. Peaceful labor vibes to you!!!
Namaste, Tara