典藏书目

After the seventh or eighth month of pregnancy, the fetus is already capable of movement. If the mother has internal heat, or if her daily routine and rest are irregular, causing fetal instability and resulting in painful fetal movement, there is no need to panic. Maintain a stable diet and peaceful sleep; within one or two days, it will naturally settle. If the pain persists, taking one or two doses of Antai Yin (Fetus-Calming Decoction) will lead to self-healing. Generally speaking, abdominal pain that intensifies in regular waves indicates true labor (Zhengchan). If the pain is slow at times and fast at others, or fluctuates between tightness and slowness, these are all false contractions (Shitong). Do not lightly assume the position for childbirth.

Antai Yin (Fetus-Calming Decoction)
Huangqi (Astragali Radix, honey-fried), Duzhong (Eucommiae Cortex, ginger-juice stir-fried), Fuling (Poria, each 1 qian), Huangqin (Scutellariae Radix, 1.5 qian), Baizhu (Atractodis Rhizoma, honey-fried until yellow, 0.5 qian), Ejiao (Asini Corii Colla, stir-fried into beads, 2 qian), Xuduan (Dipsaci Radix, 0.8 fen), Gancao (Glycyrrhizae Radix et Rhizoma, 0.3 fen), Nuomi (Oryza Sativa Glutinosa Semen, 100 grains)
Decoct with water, mix with one cup of wine, and take orally.
If there is chest fullness, add Zisu (Perillae Folium) and Chenpi (Citri Reticulatae Pericarpium), each 0.8 fen; if there is vaginal bleeding, add Qi'ai (Artemisiae Argyi Folium) and Diyü (Sanguisorbae Radix), each 1 qian, and double the dosage of Ejiao.

For women about to give birth, the pulse may show Li Jing Mai (Departing from the Regular Pulse, characterized by three beats per exhalation); a deep, fine, and slippery pulse is also named similarly. If pain is felt at midnight, delivery should occur at dawn; if pain starts in the afternoon of the following day, delivery is certain on that day.

Mothers nearing their due date must strictly avoid sleeping with a curved body. Because mothers fear pain, they often refuse to keep their bodies straight while moving, causing the fetal position to turn improperly. When the fetus approaches the birth canal, it is blocked by the mother's bent waist. Repeated turning attempts are obstructed, leading to weakness and inability to move, inevitably causing difficult labor. Observers seeing the fetus motionless might think it is a dead fetus, but in reality, it is due to lack of strength, not death. At this time, even excellent prescriptions and miraculous medicines cannot give the fetus strength to move. It is only necessary for the mother to have a calm mind and harmonious qi, adjusting gradually, which ensures safety. Another scenario involves rupture of membranes followed by sudden cessation of fetal movement, lasting one to two days or three to five days. Besides regulation and treatment, one must strictly avoid fright, worry, fear, and irritability. Fright scatters the spirit, worry knots the qi, and irritability disrupts smooth qi flow, causing blood to move recklessly, often leading to fainting. Understanding this and regulating properly naturally prevents disaster.

During labor, the mother must nourish the heart-mind and conserve energy. It is best to lie on the bed, close the eyes, and sleep peacefully for a short while. If unable to sleep, she should get up temporarily, walk slowly with assistance, or stand leaning against a table.
If the pain eases slightly, return to bed and sleep peacefully. In summary, sleep is the first and best method. However, when sleeping, one should lie flat on the back with the body straight, keeping the abdomen relaxed and spacious, facilitating fetal movement. When the mother sits or stands, the fetus is suspended upside down; when the mother sleeps, the fetus also rests, making turning less strenuous. Therefore, it is advisable to sleep peacefully and eat steadily, avoiding bending the body or moving erratically.