《脉经》云∶产后之脉，寸口洪疾不调者死，沉微附骨不绝者生。又曰∶沉小缓滑者吉
，实大坚弦疾者凶，牢革结代及涩滞不调者不治。丹溪曰∶胎前脉当洪数，既产而脉仍洪数
者死。又曰∶胎前脉细小，产后脉洪大者多死。予见产后多有洪数而生者。要知血虚之脉浮
洪而数者居多，产后血虚，故现此脉。若不明以告医，俗医多误认为外感，虚脱之祸，在于
顷刻。然此洪数之中，自有如滑之象，非如牢疾而少胃气之谓，故多死也！《产经》曰∶胎
前之病，其脉贵实；产后之病，其脉贵虚。胎前则顺气安胎，产后则补虚消瘀，此其要也。
大凡孕妇临产，气血动荡，胞胎迸裂。与常经离异，必有水先下，俗谓之胞浆，即养胎之液
也。水下则胞裂而产，即产则气血两虚，脉宜缓滑。缓则舒徐，不因气夺而急促；滑则流利
，不因血去而枯涩，均吉兆也。若实大弦牢，非产后气血两虚所宜。实则邪实，大为邪进，
弦为阴敛，宣布不能；牢为坚着，近乎无胃，皆相逆之脉，故凶。
凡孕妇产毕，血气未定，不宜睡倒，不宜侧坐，须床头浓铺 褥，高倚仰靠，宜竖膝
，不宜伸足。并遮围四壁使无孔隙，免致贼风为害。倘闭目睡倒，或怒忿逆气，即令人眩晕
也。再用醋涂鼻，房中或用醋炭，更烧以漆器，轻轻以手从心按摩至脐，则恶露尽下，又何
血晕血逆之有。常见人产毕即饮热童便一盏，又有三日内以童便和酒温服五、七次。予谓酒
虽能下恶露，行乳汁，产后脏气方虚，即素日善饮者亦不可多饮，并不可产毕即饮。盖恐因
血入四肢，或因上行能令血晕。至于童便，味臊而性凉，如胃气弱者，得臊气而驱恶；里无
火者，得凉性而滞血，且能伤胃气，均非所宜。不若预煎生化汤，产毕即服为妙。或用红糖
滚水冲化频饮，以行其瘀。时食白米薄粥煮石首鱼甘淡食之。如此调摄，自无事矣。有人先
于临月时，用有毛淡菜十余个纸包，吊风处二十余日阴干，勿令人知，产下即煎汤一钟热服
，产后再不生病。
《脉经》说：产后脉象，如果寸口部位脉来洪大急疾且不调和的，预后不良（主死）；如果脉象沉微但按之至骨仍有根气的，预后良好（主生）。又说：脉象沉小、缓滑的是吉兆；脉象实大、坚弦、急疾的是凶兆；脉象牢革、结代以及涩滞不调的，难以治愈。朱丹溪说：妊娠期间脉象应当洪数，分娩后脉象仍然洪数的，预后不良（主死）。又说：妊娠期间脉象细小，分娩后脉象反而洪大的，大多预后不良（主死）。但我见到产后脉象洪数而存活的情况很多。要知道，血虚导致的脉象多为浮洪而数，因为产后血虚，所以显现这种脉象。如果不明确告知医生，庸医多误认为是外感病，虚脱的危险就在顷刻之间。然而在这种洪数之中，自然带有类似滑脉的迹象，不像那种坚实急疾且缺乏胃气的脉象那样导致死亡！《产经》说：妊娠期间的疾病，脉象贵在充实有力；产后的疾病，脉象贵在虚弱柔和。妊娠期应当顺气安胎，产后应当补虚消瘀，这是治疗的关键。
大凡孕妇临产时，气血动荡，胞胎破裂。这与平时的生理状态不同，必定有羊水先流出，俗称“胞浆”，就是滋养胎儿的液体。羊水流出则胞胎破裂而分娩，一旦分娩，气血两虚，脉象应当表现为缓滑。缓脉意味着从容不迫，不因气被夺而急促；滑脉意味着流利通畅，不因血液流失而枯涩，这都是吉兆。如果脉象实大、弦硬、牢坚，就不符合产后气血两虚的情况。实脉代表邪气盛，大脉代表邪气进展，弦脉代表阴气收敛、宣发受阻，牢脉代表坚硬固定，近乎没有胃气，这些都是相逆的脉象，所以是凶兆。
凡是孕妇产后，气血尚未稳定，不宜躺倒，不宜侧坐，应当在床头厚铺褥子，高高倚靠仰卧，适宜竖起膝盖，不适宜伸直双腿。并且要遮挡四周墙壁使其没有缝隙，以免贼风侵害。如果闭目躺倒，或者愤怒导致气机逆乱，就会令人眩晕。再用醋涂在鼻子上，房间里可以用醋熏炭，或者烧漆器，轻轻用手从心口按摩到肚脐，这样恶露就能排尽，又怎么会有血晕、血逆的病症呢？常见有人产后立即喝一盏热童子尿，还有人在三天内用童子尿和酒温服五到七次。我认为酒虽然能下行恶露、通行乳汁，但产后脏腑之气正虚弱，即使是平时善于饮酒的人也不可以多饮，而且不能在刚生产完就喝。大概是因为担心血液流入四肢，或者因药性上行导致血晕。至于童子尿，味道腥臊而性质寒凉，如果胃气虚弱，闻到腥臊气味可以驱除恶露；体内无火的人，遇到寒凉性质会使血液凝滞，而且会损伤胃气，都不适宜。不如预先煎好生化汤，产后立即服用为妙。或者用红糖开水冲化频繁饮用，以行散瘀血。适时食用白米薄粥煮石首鱼，味道甘淡地吃。这样调摄，自然就没有事了。有人先在临近预产期时，用带壳的淡菜十多个用纸包好，挂在通风处二十多天阴干，不要让人知道，分娩后即煎一钟汤热服，产后就不再生病。
The *Mai Jing* (Pulse Classic) states: Regarding the pulse after childbirth, if the Cun (inch) position at the wrist presents a Hong (surging) and Ji (rapid) pulse that is irregular, it indicates a poor prognosis; if the pulse is Chen (deep) and Wei (faint) but remains palpable when pressed to the bone, it indicates a favorable prognosis. It further states: A Chen (deep), Xiao (small), Huan (moderate/slow), or Hua (slippery) pulse is auspicious; a Shi (excess/full), Da (large), Jian (firm), Xian (wiry), or Ji (rapid) pulse is inauspicious; a Lao (solid/fixed), Ge (leather-like), Jie (knotted/intermittent), Dai (tied-knot/intermittent), or Se (choppy) pulse that is irregular is difficult to treat. Zhu Danxi stated: During pregnancy, the pulse should be Hong (surging) and Shuo (rapid); if the pulse remains Hong and Shuo after delivery, it indicates a poor prognosis. He also stated: If the pulse is Xiao (small) during pregnancy but becomes Hong (surging) and Da (large) after delivery, death is likely. However, I have observed many cases where the pulse was Hong (surging) and Shuo (rapid) after delivery and the patient survived. One must understand that pulses due to Blood deficiency are mostly Fu (floating), Hong (surging), and Shuo (rapid). Since postpartum Blood deficiency is common, this pulse presentation occurs. If this is not clearly communicated to the physician, quacks often misdiagnose it as an external contraction, leading to the danger of Qi collapse within moments. Nevertheless, within this Hong (surging) and Shuo (rapid) pulse, there is naturally a quality resembling a Hua (slippery) pulse. It is not like the Jian (firm) and Ji (rapid) pulse lacking Stomach Qi, which leads to death. The *Chan Jing* (Childbirth Classic) states: For diseases during pregnancy, the pulse should ideally be Shi (full/excess); for diseases after childbirth, the pulse should ideally be Xu (deficient). During pregnancy, the principle is to soothe Qi and secure the fetus; after childbirth, the principle is to tonify deficiency and resolve stasis. This is the key.
Generally, when a pregnant woman goes into labor, her Qi and Blood become turbulent, and the Bao Tai (fetus sac) ruptures. This differs from normal physiology, and amniotic fluid must first flow out, commonly called "Bao Jiang" (placental fluid), which is the fluid nourishing the fetus. When the fluid flows, the sac ruptures and birth occurs. Once born, both Qi and Blood are deficient, so the pulse should be Huan (moderate/slow) and Hua (slippery). A Huan pulse implies leisureliness, indicating that Qi has not been depleted to cause urgency; a Hua pulse implies smoothness, indicating that Blood has not been lost to cause dryness and roughness. Both are auspicious signs. If the pulse is Shi (full), Da (large), Xian (wiry), or Lao (solid), it is unsuitable for the postpartum state of Qi and Blood deficiency. A Shi pulse indicates pathogenic excess; a Da pulse indicates pathogenic progression; a Xian pulse indicates Yin constriction and failure of distribution; a Lao pulse indicates firm fixation, approaching a lack of Stomach Qi. All these are contrary pulses, hence inauspicious.
After childbirth, when Qi and Blood are unsettled, the mother should not lie flat or sit sideways. The head of the bed should be heavily padded with mats, allowing her to lean back in a semi-reclined position. Her knees should be bent upward, not extended. The four walls should be shielded without gaps to prevent "thief wind" (drafts) from causing harm. If she closes her eyes and lies flat, or if anger causes Qi rebellion, dizziness may result. Applying vinegar to the nose, using vinegar-heated charcoal in the room, or burning lacquerware can help. Gently massaging from the heart down to the umbilicus will ensure the complete discharge of E Lu (lochia), preventing blood晕 (syncope) and blood rebellion. It is common to see people drinking a cup of hot Tong Bian (child urine) immediately after birth, or taking it mixed with wine warm five to seven times within three days. I believe that although wine can promote the discharge of lochia and the flow of milk, the Zang-Fu organs are just becoming deficient postpartum. Even those accustomed to drinking should not consume much, nor should they drink immediately after birth. There is fear that it might cause blood to rush to the limbs or ascend, leading to blood syncope. As for child urine, its taste is fishy and its nature is cool. For those with weak Stomach Qi, the fishy odor may drive out lochia; for those without internal heat, the cool nature may stagnate blood and damage Stomach Qi. Thus, it is not suitable. It is better to prepare Sheng Hua Tang (Decoction for Generating Blood) in advance and take it immediately after birth. Alternatively, dissolve brown sugar in boiling water and drink frequently to move blood stasis. Eat thin white rice porridge cooked with Sciaenops ocellatus (Croaker) with a mild and sweet flavor. With such care, one will encounter no problems. Some people use more than ten fresh mussels wrapped in paper near the end of pregnancy, hang them in a ventilated place for over twenty days to dry in the shade, keeping it secret. After delivery, decoct one cup and drink it hot; the mother will not fall ill again after childbirth.