丹溪论∶血不足以荣养其胎,而胎坠者,犹枝枯而果落,藤
萎而花坠也。其劳怒动火而坠者,犹风撼其木,人折其枝也。二论极是,然未详细辨论,无怪妊妇之不慎戒
也。夫妇人冲脉主血海,血旺始成胎,任脉主胞胎,静养则胎安。若怒伤肝,劳伤肾致二脏失其相火,耗血动
气,未有能保孕之不漏不坠者,且坠后尚多血崩之症。其半产之多在三五七月者,除跌仆损伤外,有因
内热而虚者,为多。曰热曰虚,当分轻重。若前次三个月而坠,则下次必如期复然,盖先于此时受伤,故复
至期,必应乘其虚也。故遇有半产者,须多服药补其虚损,并兼服白凤丸两月。如下次有胎,当先于得孕两个
月后,即服三合保胎丸,并另服固胎饮十数服,以防三个月之坠。其有连坠数次,胎滑甚者,服药更须加倍,
始可保全。下次再有,嘱者如衰弱及曾坠之妇,有娠必须恪遵胎教,斯火不动,则血旺阴胎。神不劳则气
血完,而胎固且生子,禀全易养,形端体正。况屡坠损血倍于正产,怒劳致坠,自取无后之忧也。
凡小产与坠胎有别,五七月已成形象而产者,曰小产。二三月者,谓之坠胎。皆不可以轻视,将养宜十
倍于正产矣。大产如果熟自落,小产坠胎如生采破其皮肉,断其根蒂也。忽略成病者不少,因而致命者恒多。
然此症始因敛血以成胎,继因精血以长养,终因精血不足而萎坠。根蒂不固,虚损可知,亟应分别医治。
火者清之,虚者补之,损伤者填之,补其形气,复其阴血,尤当顾脾胃为首要。盖胃为水谷之海,脾为万物
之母,人身之有脾胃,犹万物之有土也。故培土而五行有相生之妙,扶脾胃而五脏有递受之益。如是调理,虽
胎坠损血,而尚能保母之撤消也。无奈世人,一知妻媳得孕,无不喜笑颜开,忽遇小产坠胎,非惟轻视不
医,而当场咨嗟叹息,顿以白眼相加,冷语讥言,甚至有詈辱不
休者,不知妇人禀性执拗,势必郁怒为患,致腹中积成气块 瘕,久则血逆经闭而成痨瘵。但此时虽欲医治补
救,而多有无从挽回矣。呜呼,实缘调理之晚,以被轻忽而毙命。
眉批∶至此病入膏肓,虽天医不能挽救,轻命重财不亦愚乎。
破家者,不知凡几,更有执迷不悟,仍归咎于死者短命,泉下有知,能无抱九京之恸乎。小产后血不止,
或烦渴面赤,脉虚微者,气血大虚也。八珍汤加炮姜补之。若腹痛、呕泻,脾胃虚
也。香砂六君子汤加姜、桂。至一切避忌与正产相同。
Zhu Danxi discussed: When blood is insufficient to nourish the fetus, leading to miscarriage, it is like a withered branch causing fruit to fall, or a shriveling vine causing flowers to drop. Miscarriages caused by labor and anger stirring up internal heat are like wind shaking trees or people breaking branches. These two theories are extremely correct, yet they fail to discuss in detail, which explains why pregnant women do not take precautions.
Generally, the Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel) governs the Sea of Blood; when blood is abundant, the fetus forms. The Ren Mai (Conception Vessel) governs the uterus; quiet rest ensures fetal stability. If anger injures the Liver and labor injures the Kidney, causing these two organs to lose their proper function of Ministerial Fire (Xiang Huo), consuming blood and disturbing Qi, there will be no ability to maintain pregnancy without leakage or miscarriage. Moreover, after miscarriage, symptoms of metrorrhagia (blood flooding) often occur. Spontaneous abortions frequently happen in the third, fifth, and seventh months. Apart from falls and physical trauma, many cases are due to internal heat combined with deficiency. One must distinguish the severity of "heat" and "deficiency." If a miscarriage occurred at three months previously, it will likely recur at the same time next time, because injury was sustained then, making the body vulnerable at that period. Therefore, for those with spontaneous abortion, one must administer more medicine to tonify deficiencies and concurrently take Bai Feng Wan (White Phoenix Pill) for two months. If pregnancy occurs again, San He Bao Tai Wan (Three-Harmony Fetus-Securing Pill) should be taken immediately after two months of conception, along with Gu Tai Yin (Fetus-Firming Decoction) for over ten doses, to prevent miscarriage at three months. In cases of repeated miscarriages with severe fetal slipping, medication dosages must be doubled to ensure preservation. For future pregnancies, advise women who are weak or have a history of miscarriage to strictly follow prenatal education once pregnant. This prevents fire from moving recklessly, allowing abundant blood to nourish the yin fetus. Mental rest ensures complete Qi and Blood, securing the fetus. The child will be born with sound constitution, easy to raise, with proper form and posture. Furthermore, multiple miscarriages deplete blood far more than normal childbirth. Anger and labor leading to miscarriage invite the worry of having no descendants.
There is a distinction between Xiao Chan (premature delivery/miscarriage) and Zhui Tai (falling fetus). Delivery in the fifth or seventh month when the fetus has formed is called Xiao Chan. Occurrence in the second or third month is called Zhui Tai. Neither should be underestimated; convalescence requires ten times the care of normal childbirth. Normal delivery is like a ripe fruit falling naturally; Xiao Chan and Zhui Tai are like picking unripe fruit, damaging skin and flesh, and severing the root. Negligence leads to illness in many cases, and death is common. This condition begins with gathering blood to form the fetus, continues with nourishing via essence and blood, and ends with wilting and dropping due to insufficiency of essence and blood. An insecure root indicates obvious deficiency, requiring immediate differentiated treatment. Clear heat if present, tonify if deficient, fill if injured. Tonify form and Qi, restore Yin and Blood, but prioritizing the protection of the Spleen and Stomach is essential. The Stomach is the Sea of Water and Grain; the Spleen is the Mother of All Things. Just as all things rely on soil, humans rely on Spleen and Stomach. Nourishing Earth facilitates the mutual generation of the Five Phases; supporting Spleen and Stomach benefits the Five Zang organs sequentially. With such regulation, even though miscarriage damages blood, the mother's life can still be preserved. Unfortunately, when people learn of a wife or daughter-in-law's pregnancy, they are joyful. But upon encountering miscarriage, they not only neglect medical treatment but also sigh, glare, use cold words, and even curse incessantly. They ignore that women may have stubborn temperaments, leading to depression and anger, causing Qi stagnation and mass formation (Jia Ju) in the abdomen, eventually resulting in blood rebellion, amenorrhea, and consumptive disease (Lao Zhai). By this time, even if treatment is attempted, recovery is often impossible. Alas, this is due to late regulation and neglect leading to death.
Marginal note: Once the disease enters the viscera (Gao Huang), even heavenly doctors cannot save them. Valuing wealth over life is indeed foolish. Many families have gone bankrupt. Some remain deluded, blaming the deceased for short life. If the deceased had consciousness in the underworld, would they not feel profound grief? After Xiao Chan, if bleeding does not stop, accompanied by irritability, thirst, red face, and faint/weak pulse, it indicates severe Qi and Blood deficiency. Use Ba Zhen Tang (Eight-Treasure Decoction) with Pao Jiang (Roasted Ginger) to tonify. If abdominal pain, vomiting, and diarrhea occur, it indicates Spleen-Stomach deficiency. Use Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang (Aucklandia and Amomum Six-Gentlemen Decoction) with Sheng Jiang (Fresh Ginger) and Rou Gui (Cinnamon Bark). All taboos and precautions are the same as for normal childbirth.