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Since the difficulties of difficult labor have been clarified, one must understand postpartum diseases; therefore, they are discussed next.

(The discussions by Zhou are included within.)

It is stated: Whenever a woman has completed childbirth, she should first be given a cup of urine from a young boy (Tongzi Xiaobian). She must not lie down immediately but should sit with her eyes closed. After a short while, she may be helped onto the bed to lie supine. She must not lie on her side; instead, her knees should be kept bent and upright, and her legs should not be extended straight for the time being. Her head should be propped high against the headboard, the mattress should be thickly padded, and the four walls should be covered tightly without gaps to prevent exposure to "thief wind" (drafts). Simultaneously, attendants should frequently massage from the heart area down to below the navel to ensure that lochia does not stagnate. Following this practice for three days will stop the bleeding. The mother must not lie in bed too much; if she does, the caregiver should wake her frequently. Old theories suggest that a parturient should not get into bed until three days after delivery. If she waits three days to get into bed, she would have to sleep on the floor, which is certainly not advisable as it exposes her to earthy qi. Immediately after delivery, do not ask whether the baby is male or female; instead, grind three fen of vinegar-ink and administer it orally. Another method advises against taking vinegar-ink, citing a warning that it damages the Lung Meridian and causes coughing; this is considered an excessive worry. However, vinegar-ink naturally breaks up congealed blood. As long as the vinegar is not too strong and the dosage is not excessive, it will not harm the lungs. Practices vary by region, and some do not take it. Additionally, during the first three days postpartum, let the mother smell the fumes of charcoal soaked in vinegar, or burn dried lacquer (Gan Qi). If dried lacquer is unavailable, burn broken lacquered vessels as a substitute to prevent complications such as blood reversal (Xue Ni), blood confusion (Xue Mi), or fainting due to blood disturbance (Xue Yun). In summer, it is appropriate to heat bricks outside the room door, pour vinegar on them, and place them in the room. (In summer, there is no need for large fires in the room, nor for cooking porridge or decocting herbs.) Shortly after delivery, consume a simple white porridge. Do not eat too much; small, frequent servings are best, increasing gradually each day. The porridge must be cooked properly, using fresh rice, not overnight leftovers. Ensure the temperature is neither too hot nor too cold to avoid retention and illness. Continue to give a cup of urine from a young boy occasionally. (Prepare the urine in advance; in summer, keep it preserved with mint.) Regardless of abdominal pain or other conditions, shortly after birth, mix half a cup of urine from a young boy with wine and take it warm. Taking it five to seven times is excellent. After seven days (one La), one may slowly introduce pure wine and a small amount of salt flavor. Another view holds that alcohol should not be given immediately after birth because wine draws blood into the limbs, and since the mother's zang-fu organs are newly deficient, they cannot withstand the alcohol. Hot wine entering the stomach will inevitably cause dizziness and confusion. After seven days, a small amount of wine may be taken, but not excessively. If the mother desires wine or medicine before the end of the first month, take one sheng of clean black beans, stir-fry until smoke appears, pour five sheng of non-ashy wine over them, and soak them together with one liang of good Qianghuo (Notopterygii Rhizoma et Radix, washed and crushed). This is especially effective. Use this wine to administer medication or drink small amounts occasionally to ward off wind-pathogens, nourish qi and blood, expel lochia, and promote milk flow. If the mother is not accustomed to drinking alcohol, or if it is summer, there is no need to force consumption. After seven days, food may seem tasteless; one can boil mutton or hen broth thoroughly, add slight seasoning, and drink it as porridge. Alternatively, eat thoroughly boiled pig trotters (avoid sow meat and pork with white hooves), but not in excess. (Currently, in Jiangsu and Zhejiang regions, it is customary and beneficial for postpartum women to eat many boiled eggs.) After three months, warm wheat noodles may be eaten in small quantities. (Eating noodles too early can lead to edema.) Eating too much may cause food stagnation. Within the first month, one should avoid talking excessively, laughing, being startled, worrying, crying, overthinking, anger, forcing oneself out of bed to walk, or sitting for long periods. One should also avoid needlework requiring fine effort, consuming raw/cold, sticky/hard fruits/vegetables, or rich/fatty fish/meat; avoiding wind-cold exposure, undressing for bathing, or washing with cold water. Although significant damage may not be felt initially, after the full month, it may develop into "Chulao" (postpartum consumptive disease). Symptoms include soreness, heaviness, coldness, and pain in the hands, feet, waist, and legs, with a sensation like cold wind blowing through the bone marrow. Even famous doctors may find it incurable. Generally, postpartum recuperation requires a full hundred days to return to normal. Extreme caution is advised! Violating these rules often leads to body stiffness resembling opisthotonos (Jiaogong Fanzhang), known as "Chufeng" (postpartum wind), leading to untreatable conditions. One must not stay alone at night, as blood loss causes heart deficiency and fear of palpitations; strict vigilance is required. Blood-stained clothes should not be sun-dried at noon to avoid invasion by evil spirits. One must not wash feet, lest blood and qi descend improperly. One must not scrape the tongue (which harms the heart), brush teeth vigorously, or bow low, as these can cause blood reversal or fainting. These are the standard precautions for postpartum care. After the full month, one must strictly avoid arbitrary eating/drinking, exposure to wind-cold, emotional extremes, vigorous hair combing, loud shouting, strenuous manual labor, sexual intercourse (see General Postpartum Formulas Part 1), and climbing high places to use the toilet. By observing these restrictions and nurturing the body for a hundred days, qi and blood will harmonize, zang-fu organs will recover, and peace will naturally ensue. Failure to follow these guidelines results in residual postpartum diseases. Minor weakness and emaciation, if neglected and not tonified, can become major crises, causing lifelong regret. For any illnesses, regardless of severity, formulas and medicines are provided later; do not trust quacks who prescribe blindly. The Classics state that women need not only worry about labor but also require careful management postpartum. One must not rely on a feeling of health to act recklessly. Indulging desires without restraint leads to injuries that are difficult to rectify. A violation may seem insignificant as an autumn hair, but the resulting illness can be heavy as a mountain. Those who value life must be cautious.