INPUT ARTICLE: Article: Lay body on a flat surface and assemble the other body parts. Use pins to hold in place while you stitch the arms, head and tail to the body. Make the eyes small or large, to add character. If necessary, you may want to further secure the nose in place by using fabric glue before stitching.

SUMMARY: Attach the head, arms and tail to the body. Create two small eyes using black thread. Sew a wooden bead into the base of the chipmunk’s face to create his nose. Finished.

In one sentence, describe what the following article is about: To prevent the mask from dripping everywhere, consider laying down or sitting in a comfortable chair with your head tilted back. You can also use this mask in the bathtub while you are soaking or taking a relaxing bath.
Summary: Leave the mask on for 15 minutes.

Find a place where you can sit comfortably for at least ten minutes. It could be indoors or outside. What matters most, however, is that it is quiet and free from distracting noise like music, television, or people talking.  Not all noise is bad in the Vipassana tradition. Ambient sound like cars or the ticking of a clock can actually be points for you to focus your mindfulness. Ideally, wear loose clothing and remove your shoes. Sit on the floor or on a pillow. You can take a number of postures like the half-lotus, full lotus, or cross-legged. Make sure that you are upright, with an unsupported and straight spine. If you have back pain, it is also OK to sit erect in a chair.  Your posture should be upright, but not too tense. You will want your mind and body to be relaxed, while the effort to remain upright should energize your meditation. Now, place your hands one on top of the other on your lap, palms facing up. Traditionally, your right hand should rest on top of the left. It may also be helpful for beginners to close their eyes.  Try not to clench your hands or make fists. Closed eyes will help you concentrate. But concentration is not key to Vipassana meditation and you may find it best to open them if, as sometimes happens, you see disturbing images. Turn your attention to the rhythm of your inhalation and exhalation. Some people find it helpful to focus on the rise and fall of their abdomens, for example, an inch or two above the navel. Follow this motion with your mind, from beginning to end.  If you’re having trouble following the rise and fall of your abdomen, place your hand atop it. You might also try focusing on the feeling of air as it passes through your nostrils and touches the skin on your upper lip. This practice is a bit more advanced.  “Sharpen your attention” to these movements. Be aware of the sensations involved from start to finish. Don’t try to split the act into parts but experience it as one continuous motion. While you are meditating, focus on the “primary object” of your attention, i.e. your breathing. If your mind wanders to a “secondary object,” though, like a thought, a sound, or a feeling, focus on that object for a moment.  Don’t resist secondary objects. The idea instead is to let them move past you. Pause for a second or two and give them abstract mental notes. If you hear a barking dog, label it “hearing.” If you feel an insect bite, label it “feeling.”  Once you have noted an object, let it go and return to the primary object of your breathing. Noting thus allows you be aware of the surrounding world without being attached. The sensations should rise and pass over you. This detachment is supposed to help you appreciate the impermanence of the world, and the emptiness of self. How long should you try to meditate? There’s no right answer, except that some is better than none at all. However, aiming for 15 minutes a day at first is a doable goal. Work up from there.  Slowly lengthen the time you meditate by about 5 minutes per day each week, until you reach 45 minutes. There will be days when you’re too busy to put in 45 minutes of meditation. That’s OK. But try to set aside some time, however short.
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One-sentence summary -- Sit on the floor or in a chair. Put your hands on your lap. Focus all your attention on breathing. Notice – and release – other sensations and thoughts. Start slowly and increase your meditation.

INPUT ARTICLE: Article: The first step in preventing GDM is determining your risk factors for developing it.  If it turns out that you are at high risk, then you and your doctor take steps towards lowering your risk and keeping you and the baby healthy.  Before talking with your immediate relatives about their diabetic history, it might help to know the differences between type 1 and type 2 diabetes. Type 1 diabetes, is an autoimmune disorder, whereas type 2 diabetes is closely tied to lifestyle and eating habits. Your risk of developing gestational diabetes increases if a close family member, such as a parent or sibling, has type 2 diabetes. Talk to your family to see if this applies to you. Besides heredity, there are a number of other risk factors in that you should think about and bring to your doctor’s attention. These include:  Being Hispanic, African-American, Native American, Asian American, or Pacific Islander.  Being overweight before your pregnancy. Being 25 years of age or older. If you developed GDM in a previous pregnancy. If you previously had large baby (9 pounds or more) or a stillbirth. If you had abnormal blood sugar tests before, including glycosuria (sugar in your urine).  A history of polycystic ovarian syndrome. There are steps you can take even before you become pregnant to manage your risk for developing GDM. Consult with your doctor before you get pregnant and ask them to help you put together a pregnancy plan to help prepare your physically, mentally, and emotionally.  Have your blood sugar tested as early as 3 months before you plan to become pregnant in order to establish your baseline levels and to if you fall in a normal range.  Plan to lose any excess weight before pregnancy. Weight loss is not advised during pregnancy, so if you are overweight and concerned about this increasing your risk for GDM, try to lose the extra weight before you become pregnant.

SUMMARY:
Get a family history. Determine your other risk factors. Make a pregnancy plan.