Moms on TikTok say Mucinex helped them conceive

TOP OF MIND

CONGRATS! IT'S A... green mucus man?
New moms on TikTok are claiming that Mucinex helped them get pregnant after months of failed attempts.

Yes, Mucinex, the medication designed to provide "severe congestion relief," and that features a giant, green mucus man as its mascot. Some might call it a booger, but we'll go with mucus.

One mom, who goes by the handle @amanda_macgibbon, posted a now viral video explaining her Mucinex journey. She claims she took a dose "30 minutes before baby dancing," each night she and her husband tried to conceive.

And she's not alone. Dozens of moms on TikTok swear by the mucus destroyer, but is there any science to back this up? Let's talk about that.

The important bits
Okay, so what's the theory behind this? Well, Mucinex is designed to clear your airways when you're sick by loosening excess mucus in your air passages.

These moms believe that the active ingredient, guaifenesin, also thins cervical mucus to improve the ability for sperm to pass through the cervix to reach the egg.

Medical professionals aren't buying it though. Dr. Rachel McConnell notes that cervical mucus undergoes natural changes during ovulation. "It becomes wet and slippery, helping sperm swim to an egg," she told Parents.com.

She also notes there are no studies to back up these claims:

Even the makers of Mucinex do not approve of people using it for fertility purposes, noting that taking medication outside its "approved indications" can be dangerous.

What's it all mean?
Trying to get pregnant can test anyone's patience, but don't succumb to the mucus man just yet. According to recent data, 85% of couples will get pregnant within a year of trying. Doctors recommend seeking evaluation if you haven't had any luck after that first year.

Here are some natural tips and tricks to boost fertility.

DID YOU HEAR

🍽️ Care for some tofu?
The life expectancy in Japan is around 85 years. The life expectancy in the United States? 77. Where do those extra eight years come from? Tofu, at least according to Japan native, Michiko Tomioka. She says her mom would feed her tofu as a baby, and now she does the same thing with her kids. She points out that tofu contains all the essential amino acids that meat, poultry, eggs, fish and dairy do, but without cholesterol. And there are studies to back up her claims. Researchers have found that tofu can reduce the risk of heart disease and even fight cancer. Here's a complete guide on how to make tofu delicious.

🗣️ Parenting one-liners to save your sanity
Tired of getting in long arguments with your kid? You need some one-liners. Board certified behavior analyst, Alisha Simpson-Watt, is a big proponent of parenting one-liners because they leave no room for misinterpretation. Several parents shared their favorites, such as, "Every family has different rules," when your kid asks why his friend Jimmy can eat cookies for breakfast. Another favorite? "All feelings are welcome. All behaviors are not." View them all here.

🤰 High blood pressure during pregnancy is becoming a major problem
Recent studies show the rates of newly developed and chronic maternal high blood pressure have nearly doubled since 2007. Some researchers believe the increase is due in part to more testing, but that doesn't explain the full story. It also doesn't explain why overall maternal mortality continues to climb, with high blood pressure being one of the leading causes. NPR released a pretty insightful article on the issue.

🎁 Willy Wonka moms are leaving golden tickets in boxes of diapers
A mom on TikTok recently went viral during a routine trip to Target. She noticed a $20 purse sitting on a shelf in the baby aisle and assumed it must have been left behind by a mom who couldn't afford it. The video sparked over 17,000 comments and even started a movement. People are going around and slipping Target gift cards inside boxes of diapers, in hopes a struggling parent will find them. Meanwhile, at Walmart, you can expect to find chewed gum.

😡 Is it okay to sometimes hate your long-term partner?
Jamie Lee Curtis says absolutely!

A DOSE OF GOOD

@domonique3

farm fun fieldtrip 🤣

BITES WITH KIYAH

This time of year, social media feeds are buzzing with ways you can secretly (or not so secretly) limit how much Halloween candy your kids eat.

Admittedly, there was a time when my own strategy involved swapping candy for a toy, eating it myself (my husband was a willing accomplice!), or even throwing it away.

But these days I’m singing a different tune, and I have 4 reasons you should let your kids eat their Halloween candy this year.

Kiyah is the co-founder of Kizingo Kids and an expert in nutrition. Follow her on IG and YT.

BEST DEALS ON HALLOWEEN CANDY

Now that our resident nutrition expert has given us permission to eat all the candy we want, let's look at where you can find the best deals on all the treats.

No surprise, Amazon tops the list.

You can get a 130-piece Hershey's variety pack for just $15.99, and yes, this pack includes Reese's.

Or you can get this 80-piece MONSTER collection, which includes Butterfingers and Crunch bars, for $12.99.

If you're a fruit lover, this 90-piece bag of Nerds will set you back only $14.99

And if you're one of those magical houses that pass out full-size candy bars, you can get this variety 30-pack for $31.

HERE’S A QUESTION

Last week, we asked you what your favorite Halloween candy was, and there was a tie for first place between Reese's and Snickers. M&M's and Kit Kats came in second and third. Meanwhile, no one voted for poor Skittles.