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The *Daquan* (Compendium) states: Pregnant women may deliver at seven or eight months, at nine or ten months, or even after one, two, up to four years. Each case should be treated according to the appropriate method.

Xue Ji said: For those delivering prematurely, cool the blood and stabilize the fetus; for those overdue who do not deliver, tonify the blood and promote stagnation resolution.

The *Daquan* states: When a woman’s zang-fu organs are harmonious, her qi and blood will be abundant, preventing invasion by wind pathogens or malevolent spirits. If ying and wei (nutritive and defensive qi) are deficient and damaged, spirit and vitality weaken, allowing demonic essences to enter the zang organs. The presentation resembles pregnancy, hence it is called "Ghost Fetus" (Gui Tai).

Xue Ji said: The aforementioned condition arises from emotional disturbances interfering with each other, leading to deficiency of the Spleen and Lung, weakness of qi and blood, deviation from normal circulation, and disharmony of the Chong and Ren vessels. This results in insufficient primordial qi and excess pathogenic qi. If irregular menstruation is observed, timely regulation and tonification should be administered to prevent this condition. The treatment principle focuses on tonifying primordial qi, assisted by formulas such as Xionghuang Wan (Realgar Pill) to promote dispersion. In cases of Spleen meridian depression with rebellious qi, Jiawei Guipi Tang (Modified Return the Spleen Decoction) should be used for regulation and tonification. In cases of Spleen deficiency with insufficient blood, Liu Jun Xiong Gui Tang (Six Gentlemen with Ligusticum and Angelica Decoction) should be used to nourish. In cases of Liver fire consuming blood, Jiawei Xiaoyao San (Modified Free and Easy Wanderer Powder) should be used to nourish and suppress. In cases of Liver-Spleen depression and anger, Jiawei Xiaoyao San and Guipi Tang should be taken concurrently. In cases of Kidney-Liver deficiency, Liuwei Dihuang Wan (Six-Ingredient Rehmannia Pill) should be used.

Li Zhongzi (Zhai) stated: At the time of impending delivery, when internal fetal movement is felt, the mother should lie supine with her body straightened, waiting for the fetus to turn downward. (Parturifacient drugs must never be administered too early; if the fetus has not yet turned into a favorable position, the primary approach should be blood tonification, supplemented by methods to broaden qi.) Severe pain in the lower back and abdomen indicates imminent delivery. This is because the Kidneys manifest in the waist, and the uterus is connected to the Kidneys. If only abdominal pain is felt without other signs, delivery has not yet begun; parturifacient or slippery-pregnancy-inducing medicines should not be taken, nor should midwives embrace the waist (embracing the waist prevents the fetus from turning, thus it is contraindicated) or manually manipulate (midwives' hands). The mother should also avoid exerting force recklessly, which could lead to transverse or breech presentations. If amniotic fluid flows frequently before actual labor begins, this indicates the membranes have ruptured. If blood and fluids dry up first, delivery cannot occur. Baosheng Wuyou San (Baosheng Wuyou Powder) should be administered to secure the blood. (The concept of securing blood warrants careful consideration; the preparation and administration of Bazhen Yimu Tang [Eight-Tonics Motherwort Decoction] are both excellent.) The fetus will naturally be born safely. If blood loss is excessive, Bazhen Tang (Eight-Tonics Decoction, 1 jin of herbs) combined with Yi Mu Cao (Leonuri Herba, 0.5 jin, decocted in several bowls of water) should be prepared and drunk intermittently, which can also result in survival. Chen Wuze stated: This situation mostly occurs because the fetus has not turned into a favorable position, the mother sat on the birth mat too early, or she exerted herself excessively, causing membrane rupture, drying of blood and fluids, and lubricity obstruction in the birth canal, making fetal descent difficult. Shensheng Rushen San (Shensheng Rushen Powder) should be taken to secure the blood, allowing natural lubrication and descent. Alternatively, if the fetus turns and breaks the "fetal pillow," causing stagnant blood in the uterus to obstruct the fetal body, making descent difficult, Shengjin San (Shengjin Powder) should be taken urgently to dissipate the blood, allowing the fetus to survive. If, one month before delivery, sudden umbilical and abdominal pain occurs resembling labor, this is named "Nong Tai" (Playing Fetus) or "Shi Shui" (Testing Water). If midwives fail to recognize this and insert their hands to probe the fetus, it causes membrane rupture and fluid drying, making fetal turning and delivery difficult. However, women of humble status often give birth easily because their physical labor keeps the fetal qi moving. Conversely, wealthy families live in comfort and ease, becoming obese, which leads to qi stagnation and failure of the fetus to turn, resulting in difficult labor. Furthermore, women are governed by blood, and blood is governed by qi. Only when qi is smooth does blood harmonize; when the fetus is secure, delivery proceeds smoothly. Therefore, the theory of Shaotai Yin (Fetus-Thinning Drink) was specifically designed for those who are overly nourished. For those who overthink, harbor depression, or consume coarse food, although their bodies may be fat, their internal qi is necessarily weak. The fetus in the uterus cannot move independently. Dasheng San (Dasheng Powder) should be used to tonify the mother's qi, making the fetus robust and delivery easy. Generally, during labor, do not let the mother go hungry or thirsty to exhaust her strength, nor allow fear or shock to scatter her qi. The method should utilize slippery agents to unblock stagnation. Ancient texts suggest using pungent aromatics to drive away blockage and open orifices to expel blood and qi. For qi stagnation, promote qi movement; for premature membrane rupture, secure the blood (securing blood is like holding back water to release a boat, which is most stable). In midsummer, if dizziness, bleeding, headache, red face, stupor like drunkenness, and unconsciousness occur due to blood晕 (blood晕), Qing Shui Yiyuan San (Tianshui San/Cool Water Yi Yuan Powder) should be used to resolve it. (Treating blood晕 and hemorrhage with water-based methods is especially suitable in summer months and harmless in others, though consumption should be moderate.) In winter, when the weather is cold, heat the lower body with fire, and wear thick clothing to avoid uterine cold and blood coagulation, facilitating easier delivery. (Zhonggui said: This statement is very sound; women should remember it.)

Xue Ji said: Failure of the pubic symphysis to open (Jiao Gu Bu Kai) and failure of the vaginal opening to close (Chan Men Bu Bi) are both caused by inherent weakness of primordial qi and lack of regulation during pregnancy, leading to an inability of blood and qi to circulate and reach the area. Jiao Gu Bu Kai is due to deficiency of yin qi; treat with Jiawei Xiong Gui Tang (Modified Ligusticum and Angelica Decoction) and Buzhong Yiqi Tang (Tonify the Middle and Augment the Qi Decoction). Chan Men Bu Bi is due to deficiency of qi and blood; treat with Shiquan Dabu Tang (Ten Complete Great Tonifying Decoction).

The *Zhunsheng* (Standard for Diagnosis) states: Difficult labor with a dead fetus in the uterus occurs due to premature disturbance or violation of taboos, leading to dystocia. Once the amniotic fluid has broken and blood fails to nourish the fetus, the fetus dies from desiccation. One must examine the mother's tongue; if it is blue-black, the fetus is certainly dead, and purgatives should be administered. The general principles are: for cold patterns, use hot agents to promote movement; for heat patterns, use cool agents to promote movement; for dryness patterns, use slippery agents to moisten; for critical conditions, use toxic agents to purge.