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The pulse of women is based on blood. Abundant blood facilitates conception, while abundant qi makes pregnancy difficult.
When the Shaoyin pulse (the pulse of the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian or Foot-Shaoyin Kidney Meridian) beats vigorously, it indicates pregnancy. A slippery and smooth pulse at the Chi position (cubital fossa) is a favorable sign of gestation.
A pulse that is slippery, rapid, and not scattered indicates a pregnancy of three months. If the pulse is merely rapid and not scattered, the sex of the fetus can be distinguished at five months.
A rapid pulse on the left side indicates a male fetus; a rapid pulse on the right side indicates a female fetus. The abdomen of a woman pregnant with a female resembles a winnowing basket, while that of a woman pregnant with a male resembles a cauldron.
The pulse during impending labor deviates from the regular pattern. Delivery occurs after the rupture of membranes (amniotic fluid); if the fluid has not yet ruptured, there is no need for alarm.
For postpartum women, a slow and slippery pulse is auspicious. A solid, large, wiry, or deep-firm pulse accompanied by symptoms indicates an adverse condition.
Males belong to Yang, females to Yin. Yang governs Qi, and Yin governs Blood; this is a fixed principle. Therefore, women are based on blood. When blood is abundant, the root is sufficient. With a sufficient root acted upon by Yang, the processes of generation and transformation are complete, and conception becomes easy. If Qi is abundant, Blood may become deficient, meaning the root is insufficient and the normal order is violated; one cannot conceive by violating these principles. Furthermore, in the human body, Yin is still and Yang is active; Yin is the substance, and Yang is the function. Blood is inherently Yin-still and constitutes the substance. The formation of the embryo requires movement to arise from stillness, and function to follow the establishment of substance. Thus, it is considered precious for women to have blood that prevails over Qi. "Shaoyin beating vigorously" refers to the vigorous pulsation of the Hand-Shaoyin Heart Meridian. The Heart governs Blood vessels; vigorous pulsation indicates abundant blood, which facilitates conception, hence "having a child." "Having a child" means being pregnant and is a general term for both sexes, not specifically referring to males, as differentiated later in the text. The Chi pulse refers to the pulses of the left and right Kidneys. The Kidneys represent the Water of Tianyi (Heavenly One), govern the uterus, and connect to the Bao Luo (uterus/fetus sac), serving as the root of gestation. A slippery and smooth pulse indicates non-witheredness and a sense of fullness containing life, favoring pregnancy. This aligns with the *Suwen* (Basic Questions) chapter *Yin Yang Bie Lun*, which states: "When Yin pulses beat distinctly different from Yang, it is called having a child." It also aligns with He Huan's *Mai Jing* (Pulse Classic): "The pulse at the Chi position, unceasing upon pressure, indicates pregnancy." The aforementioned "vigorous Shaoyin indicates pregnancy" shares the same meaning. Regarding this slippery pulse, feeling rapid and not scattered on the fingers: Slippery represents Blood; rapid and not scattered indicates the gathering and coagulation of Blood, characteristic of a three-month pregnancy. If merely rapid and not scattered, it signifies a transition from deficiency to excess, from softness to firmness, where Blood hardens and transforms into form, thus losing its slipperiness. This describes the pulse at five months of gestation. If the rapidness is more pronounced on the left, it indicates a male fetus. Since males belong to Yang and reside on the left, fetal Qi gathers in Yang, making the left side stronger. If the right side is stronger than the left, it indicates a female fetus. Since females belong to Yin and reside on the right, fetal Qi gathers in Yin, making the right side stronger. "Stronger" here refers to the degree of prominence, not necessarily that the right is not rapid when the left is. Observing the abdomen: resembling a winnowing basket indicates a female fetus; resembling a cauldron indicates a male fetus. Generally, in the womb, the female fetus faces the mother's abdomen, and the male fetus faces the mother's back. Although they mimic the parents' forms, this also reflects the principle of Yin-Yang embracing. The female facing the abdomen presses her knees against the abdominal wall, resulting in a shape larger at the bottom and smaller at the top, like a winnowing basket. (A winnowing basket is shallow at the front and deep at the back; inverted, it has uneven height.) The male facing the back presses his spine against the abdominal wall, resulting in a perfectly round shape, like a cauldron. (A cauldron is a cooking pot; inverted, it is perfectly round.) Another theory states that female fetuses move in various places within the abdomen with vigorous motion, while male fetuses move the entire abdomen but with slight motion. Movement in specific places involves the limbs; movement of the entire abdomen involves the back. Reviewing these theories confirms the orientation of males and females in the womb. Upon impending labor, the pulse suddenly differs from the usual ten-month gestational pulse. For instance, if the pulse was typically floating and thick, it suddenly becomes deep during labor; if it was typically slow, it suddenly becomes rapid. Whether small, large, slippery, or choppy, all change abruptly. This is because the fetal Qi has been stable for ten months; once delivery begins, Qi and Blood become turbulent, the fetal sac ruptures, and the pulse naturally deviates from the norm, no longer resembling its usual appearance. Nevertheless, the amniotic fluid (commonly called Bao Jiang, the liquid nourishing the fetus) must rupture first. Once the fluid breaks, the sac ruptures and delivery ensues. If this has not happened, do not mistake it for dystocia (difficult labor) and be alarmed. After delivery, when Qi and Blood are both deficient, the pulse should be slow and slippery. Slow indicates relaxation and slowness, not急促 (hasty/rapid) due to Qi depletion. Slippery indicates smoothness, not choppy or withered due to Blood loss. Both are auspicious signs. However, a solid, large, wiry, or deep-firm pulse is unsuitable for postpartum women with Qi and Blood deficiency. Solid indicates pathogenic excess; Large indicates pathogenic advancement; Wiry indicates Yin constriction preventing free circulation; Deep-firm indicates hardness and attachment with unresolved stasis. These are all contrary pulses. If external symptoms are present, how can the condition be harmonious?