INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Place the pan on the stove and turn the heat to medium high. Add enough oil to rise up the sides of the frying pan by about 1/4 - 1/2 inch (.6 - 1.3 cm). Let the oil heat up completely. To test whether it's ready for the hot dogs, drop a crumb of bread into the hot oil. If it immediately starts sizzling and sputtering, the oil is ready. They're delicious with fried peppers and onions, mixed into macaroni and cheese, or on their own with some ketchup and mustard.

SUMMARY: Heat some oil in a frying pan. Serve the hot dogs.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Even aloe vera can cause irritation when applied to open sores. Do not apply essential oils if they are causing a rash, burning, or irritation. You may be allergic, or you may be applying too potent a concentration of oil. Dilute lemon balm and peppermint oil before applying them to your skin. Do not treat cold sores in children with peppermint oil. Aloe gel may be used on the skin, but should not be taken orally. Lemon balm may be used topically on children. Speak to your child's doctor about appropriate dosages. Peppermint oil is likely safe for pregnant people, and may relieve nausea if drunk as a tea. Pregnant or breastfeeding women should not take lemon balm. Aloe may be used on the skin, but should not be taken orally.

SUMMARY: Do not apply essential oils to open sores. Use caution when applying essential oils to children. Use caution when using essential oils while pregnant or breastfeeding.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: The purpose of pre-natal care is to identify risk factors and potential complications that the mother may experience during pregnancy. For this reason, it's essential that you make regular pre-natal appointments and attend all of them. Your initial visit will include a comprehensive assessment of your health history, medical history, nutritional history, and more. Successive visits will also include a physical exam, laboratory tests, and an ultrasound exam. During your prenatal check-up, you should ask questions regarding any concerns you might have about possible complications, immunizations, and other ways to maintain a healthy pregnancy. During your prenatal checks, your health care provider may order a series of tests to find out your health status. Pelvic examinations and cervical or vaginal smears may also be ordered to determine the presence of any issues or infections. Do not hesitate to ask your health care provider for more details about any tests. Your health care provider is responsible for explaining the procedure and the purpose of the test, and to let you know about the results of the test. Many of the causes of bleeding and other maternal complications are because of an unhealthy lifestyle. Therefore, the obvious solution is to modify your lifestyle according to your pregnancy needs. For some, lifestyle changes are not quite easy, but just think about how both you and your baby will benefit. Pregnancy is not an excuse for physical inactivity (unless contraindicated by your health care provider due to health reasons). A pregnant woman may still exercise during pregnancy but with lower intensity and duration. Exercise improves blood circulation, contributes to stress reduction, enhances self-esteem, and improves the over-all health of a pregnant woman. The exercises you may consider include swimming, walking, or stretching. These exercises are known to be non-weight bearing activities. They are less strenuous and very convenient for pregnant women to engage in. Exercise at least three times in a week for 30 minutes, then rest for 10 minutes after exercise by lying on your side. This removes pressure on a major vein in your abdomen that carries blood supply to your heart. Towards the end of your pregnancy, you may experience increased respiratory effort and decreased cardiac reserve. This can lead to physiologic stress. To avoid this, you should not engage in strenuous exercise during the advanced stages of pregnancy. Stop exercising immediately if you feel any shortness of breath, dizziness, numbness, tingling, pain of any kind, more than four uterine contractions per hour, decreased fetal activity, or vaginal bleeding. Consult your health care provider immediately. Nutrition is a major factor that can contribute to a successful pregnancy. Ask your health care provider or a nutritionist to come up with a diet plan that provides you with the right balance of nutrients, vitamins and minerals that you need for your pregnancy. You may also check the recommended daily dietary allowances or the recommended daily intakes of selected nutrients during pregnancy on the internet or in books on pregnancy. Reading such informative materials will help you to understand the role of nutrition during pregnancy and the recommended food sources. Pregnancy itself can be very stressful, as you are going through a lot of physical changes and discomforts. Unfortunately, stress is bad for the baby and can contribute to bleeding and other issues. Therefore, it's important to minimize outside sources of stress and to try to stay as calm as possible. Resting and relaxing are encouraged during pregnancy. One technique that can be very effective in getting yourself to relax is conscious relaxation. Conscious relaxation is the process of releasing tension from the mind and body though deliberate effort and practice. Preparation: Loosen clothing; assume a comfortable sitting or side-lying position with all parts of the body well-supported by pillows. The use of soothing music is optional. Beginning: Allow yourself to feel warm and comfortable. Inhale and exhale slowly, and imagine a sense of peaceful relaxation coming over each part of your body, starting with the neck and working your way down to the toes. Maintenance: Use imagery to maintain the state of relaxation. Awakening: Return to the wakeful state gradually Practice conscious relaxation for 10-15 minutes each day and you will feel refreshed and invigorated. Drinking alcohol is associated with high rates of miscarriage. Cigarette smoking is also associated with increased frequency of abruption placenta, placenta previa, premature rupture of membranes, and preterm labor. For obvious reasons, these elements are harmful for the fetus and for the mother as well. These substances have the potential to cross the placental barrier which protect the baby. Check with your doctor before taking any over-the-counter medications. Some medications contain ingredients that could be harmful to your pregnancy. Also remember to read the labels for the ingredients and proper use of certain medications and products. If you are working in a hazardous environmental workplace (e.g. Radiologic department, laboratories and factories especially dealing with different kinds of chemicals), consider changing of job assignment or workplace. Sex is usually safe as long as it feels comfortable. However, there are certain conditions under which it is not safe to have sexual intercourse. Abstain from sex if you if you have history of premature dilation of the cervix and abnormal vaginal bleeding. Report to your health care provider if you are experiencing vaginal bleeding and/or uterine cramping during intercourse. Physical abuse is harmful for both mother and baby. Maternal battering increases the risk of maternal complication, bleeding, infections, and other harmful condition. Therefore, it is highly important that you report any form of physical abuse to your health care provider or to recognized authorities. This is never an easy step, especially for women who value their relationships with their partners.

SUMMARY:
Make regular pre-natal appointments. Schedule regular appointments to check for maternal disorders. Understand that lifestyle changes can prevent some maternal conditions that cause bleeding. Exercise regularly to prevent maternal conditions from developing. Decrease your exercise level as your pregnancy progresses. Eat healthy. Manage your stress levels. Practice conscious relaxation. Do not smoke or drink alcohol. Avoid environmental hazards such as radiation and other harmful substances. Practice safe sex. Protect yourself from violence.