Library

After a newborn infant is delivered, immediately wrap a finger with cotton wool and wipe the greenish coating (vernix caseosa/lochia) on the mouth and tongue to remove the stagnant blood. This is called "Yu Xian" (Jade Holding). If not wiped promptly, upon the first cry, it will enter the abdomen and cause blood diseases. If the infant does not cry after birth, pour cold water into the mouth; within a moment, the infant should cry. Alternatively, gently whip the face with white parts of scallions, or apply heat by ironing with heated cotton wadding. Some cases may require care up to one hundred days for recovery. Another method: when the infant is born, it is suitable to wrap them in the father's old clothes; if female, in the mother's old clothes. Do not use new silk fabrics. It is crucial to follow these methods to ensure the infant's longevity.

After bathing the newborn and cutting the umbilical cord, take a piece of Licorice Root (Gancao, 甘草) about the length of one middle finger joint, crush it, add two he of water, boil until one he remains. Dip cotton wool in the decoction and let the infant suckle. Adjust the amount according to the infant's condition until consumed.

Within the first three days after birth, the infant must be given Cinnabar Honey (Zhu Mi), but not in large quantities. Excessive intake causes cold stomach and abdominal distension, predisposing to Yin Epilepsy (Yin Xian) and rapid breathing. If it transforms into Tetanus (Jin Feng Jing), the infant may die. Cinnabar Honey stabilizes the spirit, stops palpitations and fright, wards off evil qi, and removes various diseases.

Three days after birth, the gastrointestinal tract should be opened to assist digestion (Gu Shen). Rice can be ground into a thin porridge, similar in consistency to yogurt. Give an amount the size of a soybean to swallow frequently, stopping after three beans. After three days are full, solid food feeding begins only at seven days. At ten days after birth, start feeding food the size of a jujube pit. Double this amount every ten days. At fifty days, the amount should be like a small marble.

Breast milk is transformed from Qi and Blood, which are influenced by the infant mother's emotions (Five Emotions). Therefore, when selecting a wet nurse, seek one who is emotionally stable, neither excessively angry nor joyful, and has a gentle temperament. Perfection in other aspects is not required; as long as her appearance is not unpleasant, and she suffers from no diseases such as bromhidrosis, goiter, sores, scabies, tinea capitis, cheilitis, deafness, nasal disorders, or vertigo, she may breastfeed the infant.

When breastfeeding, do not overfill the infant. Overfeeding leads to vomiting. If the infant is too full, allow them to suckle an empty nipple to aid digestion. In summer, do not provide breast milk that retains heat, as this causes vomiting and regurgitation in the infant. In winter... [text incomplete].

When the infant drinks milk, the wet nurse must observe taboos; otherwise, various diseases will arise in the infant. The greatest taboo is: in spring and summer, do not allow the infant to receive heat directly while breastfeeding, as this... [text incomplete].