When a pregnant woman is approaching delivery, she should prepare Licorice Root (Gancao) and Coptis Rhizome (Huanglian) in advance. At the time of labor, first decoct Licorice Root to make a juice. When the midwife is ready to receive the baby, quickly wrap a finger with cotton silk, dip it into the Licorice Root juice, and wipe the infant's mouth. Next, take a small amount of Coptis Rhizome and decoct it together with Licorice Root; wipe the inside of the mouth again using the same method as before. Finally, apply Cinnabar Honey (Zhumi).

Qian Yi stated: Use high-quality Cinnabar (Zhusha), grind it finely, and process it by water flotation (Shuifei). Mix it with refined White Honey (Baimi) to form a paste the size of a small bean. Dissolve this in milk for administration. For the first three days, administer only three pills at a time. This can calm the heart and spirit (Zhenxin Anshen) and also detoxify foul blood (Jie Hui Xue Zhi Du).

True Calculus Bovaris (Niuhuang) should be mixed with refined honey to form a paste the size of a small bean. Administer a small amount dissolved in milk. If the color and texture are not authentic, it should not be used. It is suitable for infants with yellowish complexion and fetal heat (Tai Re).

Zhang Huan discussed: If a newborn has no milk yet and the mother's lactation has not started, pig milk can be used as a substitute to prevent convulsions (Jingxian) and smallpox (Douchuang).
Qian Yi stated: For newborns up to one month old, dripping pig milk into the mouth is best.
The *Taiping Shenghui Fang* states: To obtain pig milk, allow the piglet to suckle from the sow first, then lift the piglet by its hind legs so that its mouth naturally detaches from the teat. Immediately squeeze the udder by hand to extract the milk. This method is essential for obtaining the milk.

To clear fetal toxins (Taidu), it is advisable to decoct Fermented Soybean (Dandouchi) into a concentrated liquid and administer it for three to five days. The toxin will naturally be expelled, and it also helps nourish Spleen Qi (Pipi) and digest milk and food. The Dandouchi used must be unsalted.
Yang Shi stated: The diseases contracted by infants in the womb are varied. Generally, they involve stagnation and obstruction of interior Qi (Li Qi Yu Jie). It is optimal to clear the fetal toxins.

When bathing an infant, do not cut the umbilical cord first; wait until after the bath to cut it. This prevents water dampness from injuring the navel and avoids conditions such as Neonatal Tetanus (Qifeng) and Navel Ulcer (Qichuang). Apply a mixture of Clear Oil (Qingyou) and Hair Ash (Fahui) to the navel. Do not let water wet the umbilical cord during bathing.
The *Qianjin Fang* discusses: When bathing an infant, adjust the water temperature carefully. If the temperature is inappropriate, it may cause Water Shock (Shui Jing) leading to illness. In winter cold, prolonged bathing injures against Wind-Cold (Fenghan). In summer heat, prolonged bathing injures against Heat (Re). The water temperature should be moderate. During bathing, protect the infant's back, as Wind Evil (Fengxie) enters through here, causing fever and potentially convulsions.

The *Qianjin Fang* discusses: When cutting the umbilical cord, never use a knife. Bite it off and tie it securely. The remaining umbilical cord should be long enough to reach the infant's foot. If too short, it causes Cold Invasion (Zhong Han), leading to abdominal discomfort or Internal Hooking Syndrome (Neidiao). If the cord is cut before bathing, water entering the navel causes abdominal pain. After cutting the cord, there are often worms in the stump; these must be promptly removed, otherwise they enter the abdomen and cause disease. Generally, after cutting the umbilical cord, the area should be thickly wrapped with Moxa (Ai) for protection. If the nursing mother is careless, or if bathwater enters the navel, or urine leaks into the swaddling clothes, dampness accumulates in the navel, or if the wrapping is loosened allowing Wind-Cold Evil to invade, all these can cause navel swelling, excessive crying, inability to nurse, resulting in Neonatal Tetanus (Qifeng).
Qian Yi stated: If the umbilical cord is cut after bathing, it must be bitten off through a single layer of clothing, and seven breaths of warm air should be blown onto it. The length of the remaining cord should be six cun. If too long, it damages muscle; if too short, it damages the viscera. Cold invasion may lead to internal masses. Promptly remove filth worms from the cord to prevent them from entering the abdomen and causing disease. Furthermore, if residual fluids remain, and warm Qi is insufficient while Cold Qi is excessive, Neonatal Tetanus (Qifeng) results.