Most pregnant women can get the necessary iron, iodine, and folic acid from their diet, but your doctor may also suggest taking supplements if you skip meals often, have a low appetite, or have other health issues. Avoid taking supplements without consulting your doctor first. Having too many vitamins and minerals in your body can be harmful to your babies. If you are vegan, or do not eat a lot of dairy in your diet, you may need to take calcium supplements. Vegans may also need a B12 supplement. As well, pregnant women should take a folic acid supplement each day to ensure they have the right amount of folic acid in their system. Do not take fish liver oil supplements, high dose vitamin supplements, or supplements containing vitamin A as these can be harmful to your babies. The FDA does not evaluate or regulate natural herbal supplements, so the quality and strength of the supplement may vary between different manufacturers or even different batches. However, the FDA recommends that pregnant women always check with their doctor about the safety of taking an herbal supplement before buying it or consuming it. Some herbal supplements may contain products that are not safe for pregnant women and may endanger your babies. If you are interested in herbal supplements to help alleviate any issues in your pregnancy, speak to a trained, certified herbalist. Ask your doctor for a referral to a reputable herbal specialist.

Summary: Talk to your doctor about vitamin and mineral supplements. Do not double your supplements when you are pregnant with twins. Ask your doctor about herbal supplements before you take them.

For serious cuts and abrasions, use a pressure bandage. A pressure bandage is a long piece of thin gauze with a thick piece of padded gauze located near one end. The padded gauze is placed over the wound and the thin strip is wrapped around it to apply pressure and secure it in place. This is best used to prevent heavy bleeding from a wide cut or abrasion. You can use adhesive tape to secure the end of the gauze in place. You can use these bandages for impalements and puncture wounds. If you have a wound that contains a foreign object, like a shard of glass, a piece of wood, or a piece of metal, you need to use a doughnut bandage. A doughnut bandage is a thick, "O" shaped bandage that relieves pressure around an impaled object or deep puncture. Leave the impaled object in place (do not attempt to pull it out!) and place the bandage around it. Then, use adhesive gauze tape or gauze wrapped around the edges of the doughnut to hold it in place. Do not wrap any gauze or tape over the center of the doughnut where the impaled object is located. You can make your own doughnut bandage by rolling a triangle bandage/sling into a tight, snakelike coil, then making a loop the size required to support the impaled object. (Loop it around a finger, fingers or hand as a mold.) Then take the loose, coiled ends of the bandage and lace them though your loop, around the outer side and back through the loop. Tuck the tips of the bandage back into the doughnut shaped structure to secure them. In this way, you can make support structures for a wide range of injuries. To secure a dislocated or broken bone, a triangle bandage is ideal. This small-looking bandage unfolds into a large, triangle-shaped bandage. It is used by folding it into a shape, and then using it to support a fractured or dislocated bone. Fold the triangle up into a long rectangle and tie it in a loop to create a sling. Alternatively, you can wrap it around a splint/bone to provide support. The uses of the triangle bandage will vary based on the injury, so use your discretion. To bandage second degree burns, use gauze rolls. Second degree burns cover an area wider than 3-inches and are blistered, red, swollen, and painful. While you should never attempt to bandage a third-degree burn, you should use gauze to bandage a second-degree burn. Wrap the sterile gauze loosely around the wound, and secure it with tape. The gauze will help block out irritants and infection, without cutting off circulation or applying pressure to the burn. On a deep cut or accidental amputation, tensor bandages are ideal. Tensor bandages are made of a thick elastic that helps to apply heavy pressure to severe bleeding. If you have a deep cut or accidental amputation, remove as much of the blood as possible, and then apply a thick layer of sterile gauze. Wrap the tensor bandage around the gauze to secure it in place and apply pressure to help minimize the bleeding. Try to position the injured area above the heart before bandaging, as this reduces blood flow and risk of shock. It also makes the tensor easier to apply.

Summary: Use a pressure bandage. Use a doughnut bandage. Use a triangle bandage. Use gauze rolls. Use a tensor bandage.

Checking local car review websites will give you the lowdown on features, performance, strengths, and weaknesses of different models of car. Read reviews from buyers and car experts to get a broad perspective on how the cars measure up. Reviews coming directly from car owners are likely to be the most honest and upfront about the potential problems or perks of certain vehicles. Car review websites are also helpful for compare similar cars. An important part of car shopping is having a quality experience with the dealership you choose to buy or lease from. Read online reviews of local car dealerships to see scores, stats, and buyer experiences. Opt for a long-running dealership as longevity is usually a sign of quality service and customer satisfaction. Reviews of dealerships in the U.S. can be obtained through the Better Business Bureau and Edmunds, a top online automotive resource. There are a variety of online resources available that will help you find a car that you can afford. Visit reliable car review websites to compare prices and get an idea of what car you should be shopping for. Such websites include: https://www.carmax.com/ https://www.edmunds.com/ https://www.kbb.com/ https://www.truecar.com/ Look up the prices of similar cars from different manufacturers and dealerships. If you are looking for a specific type of vehicle, like a small hatchback, limit your focus to that category to keep your research manageable. If prices are not readily available online or in local publications, visit local dealerships. Used car dealerships will be able to offer you certain deals and lower prices, so visit them in person to research their prices. The best way to find out if a car is right for you is to get behind the wheel. Visit a car dealership to arrange a test drive, either on the same day or at a later date. Aim to visit the dealership in the morning, early in the week, to ensure that you get the salesperson's full attention and avoid a long wait or crowd. Do not feel pressured to buy a car the same day as your test drive. Use the test drive as an opportunity to ask the salesperson extensive questions about the car.
Summary: Make use of car review websites. Research local car dealerships online. Look up cars that are within your budget. Do price comparison shopping. Schedule a test drive.