Did i lose my mucus plug? 40 weeks pregnant today, felt like i was leaking something so went to bathroom. when i wiped i found something about an inch long, grayish in color, and dry. sort of resembles an oyster. should i call my doctor?

The : The mucus plug is mucus that protects the uterus from bacteria or other infections during pregnancy. The plug is usually passed because the cervix is dilating. It can be stringy, sticky or look a lot like the mucus that could come from your nose. So, when you say it looks like an oyster, I am guessing that you mean the material from the interior of the oyster and not the very hard shell on the outside. It can be clear, opaque or pink tinged. If you are bleeding bright red blood (more than a small amount) that is of more concern. Passing the mucus plug does not give you very exact information about when you will go into labor. A woman could go into labor within hours or within weeks after she passes her plug. Congratulations on the pending arrival of your new baby. Usually your doctor will give you directions about when he or she wants you to go the hospital. I.E., timing of contractions. If you are not contracting and don't have bleeding (ie more than a couple teaspoons of blood) you can probably let your doctor know at the next visit. Usually visits are more frequent once your pregnancy is this far advanced. If you are having symptoms suggestive of labor, or you have a release of fluids, yes call your doctor.