胎教之说,未谙者,多妊娠能遵而行之,不特无产难之虞。且
生子鲜胎毒殇夭之患,诚为广嗣要旨,姑以大概陈之。
妇人经后四十余日不转,即谨房室,慎起居,薄滋味、养性情,刻刻存心与执持宝玉,无异举趾,必徐
行立,勿仰坐,不实其前阴,卧不久偏一侧,不得耽坐嗜卧,致气血凝滞。虽不可负重作劳,然须时时小役,
四体则经络流动,胎息易于动运,腰腹渐粗,饮食不宜过饱,茶汤更须节省,大热大凉总非所宜,犬、羊、
蟹、鳖、鳗、鳝等,一切有毒之物,固宜切禁。即椒、姜常用之品,亦须少尝。其猪肉酒曲之类,总不能屏绝
不食,亦不可恣啖。归精于胎,过于蕃长致临产为难。且子在胞中,禀质肥脆,襁褓
必多羸困,譬如沃壤肥盛之草木,移植于脊土,枝叶得不凋萎乎。甫交三月,即当用布满裹腰腹,胎气渐长,
仅可微松其束,切勿因其气急满闷而顿放之。在夏澡洗须避热汤、冬时寤寐勿近炉炭。其最甚者,尤在不节
交合,淫火尽归其子,以酿痘疹、疥癞之毒。若怀子受惊,则子多胎惊。怀子抱郁,则子多结核、流注。
怀子恐惧,则子多癫痫。怀子常起贪妄之念,则子多贪吝。怀子常挟愤怒之心,则子多暴野狼。怀子常造绮语
诡行,则子多诈伪。非但
怀子之后,常宜检束身心,而经净交感慎勿恣肆,以遗胎息之患。若大醉后媾精,精中多着酒湿,则子多不
育。大怒后媾精,精中多挟怒火,则子多乖戾。大劳后媾精,精中不满真气,则子多孱弱。若夫热药助战,
作意秘精,精中流行毒悍,则子多异疾。至于风雨雷电媾精,感触震气,则子多怪类。以此言之,则三元五
腊宜确遵禁戒,宗桃重务,安可视为嬉戏哉。
保元论云∶妇人怀孕,常令乐意运动气血安养胎元,早当绝欲,节调饮食,内远七情,外避六淫,性宜静
而不宜躁,体宜动而不宜逸,味宜凉而不宜热,食宜暖而不宜寒,毋久立久坐,毋久行久卧,又宜却除一切肥
甘,以及煎炒炙 油腻,辛辣、水果,生冷、兔,鸽异味及无鳞等鱼,能照避忌HT ,无胎漏下血,子肿、
子痫,子悬等异症,以及横生,逆产、胎伤腹中之患。且生后亦无胎热,胎寒、胎肥、胎怯、胎惊、胎毒
之症,遗累小儿。常见禀性温良之妇,有孕而少嗜欲,生子少病。而痘疮亦稀,此其验也。
The theory of prenatal education is often not fully understood, and many find it difficult to strictly observe and practice during pregnancy. If adhered to, not only are there no risks of dystocia (difficult childbirth), but the child is also rarely subject to the hazards of premature death due to fetal toxins. This is indeed a key principle for ensuring abundant offspring. I will briefly outline the general points.
Forty-plus days after menstruation ends (early pregnancy), one must be cautious regarding sexual intercourse, mindful of daily routines, consume bland flavors in diet, and nurture one's temperament. One should constantly maintain a reverent mind, as if holding precious jade; walking must be slow, standing should be steady, avoid sitting with the back arched, avoid exposing the anterior yin to cold, do not sleep on one side for long periods, and avoid excessive sitting or lying down, which leads to stagnation of qi and blood. Although heavy lifting and strenuous labor are forbidden, slight physical activity should be performed frequently so that the meridians and collaterals of the four limbs flow smoothly, facilitating the movement of fetal qi. As the waist and abdomen gradually enlarge, food intake should not be excessive, and tea or water should be consumed sparingly. Foods that are extremely hot or extremely cold are generally unsuitable. All toxic substances such as dog, sheep, crab, turtle, eel, and loach must be strictly prohibited. Even commonly used items like pepper and ginger should be tasted only in small amounts. Regarding pork, wine lees, and similar foods, while they cannot be completely abstained from, one must not indulge in them excessively. If essence concentrates too much in the fetus, causing overly rapid growth, it may lead to difficulties at delivery. Moreover, the fetus within the uterus has a tender and fragile constitution. If nourished excessively in infancy, it will likely result in frailty and distress. It is like plants growing in fertile soil being transplanted to barren land; how can their branches and leaves not wither?
Upon reaching three months, the waist and abdomen should be wrapped with cloth. As fetal qi gradually grows, the binding can be slightly loosened, but never suddenly released due to sensations of shortness of breath or chest fullness. In summer, bathing should avoid hot water; in winter, upon waking from sleep, one should stay away from stoves and charcoal fires. The most severe harm comes especially from unregulated sexual intercourse, where "libidinous fire" is transmitted entirely to the child, potentially brewing toxins such as smallpox/rash (dou zhen) or scabies/leprosy-like conditions. If the mother is startled during pregnancy, the child is prone to fetal fright (tai jing). If the mother harbors depression, the child is prone to tubercles and flowing abscesses (liu zhu). If the mother experiences fear, the child is prone to epilepsy. If the mother frequently entertains greedy or delusional thoughts, the child tends to be greedy and stingy. If the mother often harbors anger, the child tends to be violent and wild. If the mother engages in frivolous speech and deceitful behavior, the child tends to be fraudulent. Not only during pregnancy should one restrain body and mind, but even after menstruation ceases, sexual intercourse must be cautious and not indulgent, to avoid harming fetal qi. Conception after heavy drunkenness introduces alcohol-dampness into the sperm, leading to infertility in the child. Conception after intense anger introduces angry-fire into the sperm, leading to perverse and obstinate temperaments in the child. Conception after extreme fatigue results in sperm lacking true qi, leading to frailty in the child. Using hot medicines to aid sexual performance and deliberately retaining essence causes toxic and fierce energies to circulate in the sperm, leading to rare diseases in the child. Conception during wind, rain, thunder, or lightning exposes the fetus to shock-energy, resulting in abnormal or strange characteristics in the child. Therefore, during the Three Yuan and Five La festivals (specific Taoist auspicious/taboo days), strict adherence to prohibitions is essential. The heavy responsibility of continuing the family line cannot be treated as play.
The *Bao Yuan Lun* states: Pregnant women should maintain a joyful mood and move qi and blood to nourish the fetal origin. Sexual desire should be cut off early, diet regulated, internal emotions (Seven Emotions: joy, anger, worry, thought, grief, fear, fright) kept at bay, and external pathogenic factors (Six Evils: wind, cold, summer-heat, dampness, dryness, fire) avoided. Temperament should be calm rather than irritable, the body active rather than idle, flavors cool rather than hot, and food warm rather than cold. Avoid standing or sitting for too long, walking or lying down for too long. Also, eliminate all rich, sweet, greasy, fried, roasted, spicy, raw/cold foods, rabbit, pigeon, unusual meats, and scaleless fish. By observing these taboos, one can avoid abnormalities such as fetal leakage with bleeding, edema (zi zhong), eclampsia (zi xian), hanging fetus (zi xuan), breech presentation, malpresentation, and intra-abdominal fetal injury. Furthermore, after birth, there will be no symptoms of fetal heat, fetal cold, fetal obesity, fetal weakness, fetal fright, or fetal toxins burdening the infant. It is common to see women with gentle and kind dispositions who have few desires during pregnancy; their children suffer less illness and have fewer cases of smallpox/rash. This serves as verification.