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The submersion of a polymer network with a high density of hydrogen bond based cross-links in an aqueous bath results in the formation of a rubberlike hydrogel. The cross-links, which connect chains and maintain the structure of the network, can dissociate as a result of two main factors: (1) the interactions between the hydrogen bonds and the surrounding water molecules and (2) the forces that are exerted on the cross-link from the interconnected chains. We recall that these forces depend on the ratio between the end-to-end distance and the overall contour length of the chains. The application of an external loading translates into the stretching of chains in the network and, as a consequence, an increase in the forces that are exerted. Sufficiently large external loadings can break cross-links and alter the microstructure of the network. From a macroscopic viewpoint, the breaking of cross-links leads to significant …