Mucus plus vs bloody show question

I remember loosing my mucus plug a week before my water broke with my first pregnancy. But never experienced a bloody show.

I thought I was losing pieces of my mucus plug last week, which was clear and thick, since then I have had a lot of thin discharge. But today I am loosing so much more. Almost every time I wipe it’s increasing. Except this time is brown and pinkish and back to being thick.

When I looked up the difference I really didn’t understand between the two since both can be brown or pink. So how do I tell?

I’m 38+6 and having cramps and inconsistent contractions. So obviously labor is near, but I’m just curious about this. Thanks!