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When the laboring woman experiences abdominal pain that is not severe, she should calm her mind and rest in bed, or be assisted to move slightly, to facilitate the fetus's舒展 (extension) and rotation within the uterus. If lower back and abdominal pain are severe with signs of impending delivery, she should lie supine with her body straightened, or sit up and stretch. It is essential to remain quiet and composed, enduring the pain with great patience, waiting for the fetus to turn downward; thus, delivery will surely be smooth and easy. It is most inadvisable to cause premature panic, interference, or manual intervention, which may lead to qi deficiency and timidity in the mother, causing rupture of the amniotic sac and drying of amniotic fluid, making fetal rotation difficult and inevitably leading to dystocia (difficult childbirth). If one can endure until the point of no return, the fetus will naturally descend. There has never been a case of dystocia due to "illegitimate" circumstances alone; it is precisely because of the ability to endure pain.

When the laboring woman first feels the urge to give birth, she must conserve strength, calm her spirit, and pay attention to nourishment, avoiding reckless exertion, lest she lack qi and strength at the critical moment. If she exerts force too early while the fetus is just turning, it often results in malpresentation such as transverse or breech presentation. One must wait until the fetus turns correctly and aligns with the pelvic outlet, allowing natural uterine contractions to expel the baby. If the time is not right, exerting force is futile.

At the time of imminent delivery, the priority is to nourish the spirit, conserve strength, and sleep peacefully; one must not rush into the actual pushing phase prematurely. The fetus in the womb needs time to slowly rotate and find the birth canal, emerging head-down and feet-up in a inverted position. When the time is truly ripe, the infant will emerge naturally. There is no need to push excessively or become overly anxious. Even if progress is slow and exceeds the expected time, the baby may simply fall into the clothing or onto the bed, which poses no major harm. This is the crucial principle of labor, an unchanging truth throughout history.

Diet is fundamental during labor. Some women cannot eat during labor, resulting in weak essence and qi, leaving them without the strength to push. Therefore, it is recommended to purchase 3-5 qian of Renshen (Ginseng Radix) or 3-5 liang of Dangshen (Codonopsis Radix) before labor begins, decoct and consume them when delivery is imminent, greatly boosting strength, surpassing the effect of meat consumption. It is also advisable to frequently consume thick, soft rice porridge to prevent hunger and thirst from depleting energy. Hard, cold, or indigestible foods should be avoided, as weakness during labor may lead to spleen deficiency and inability to digest, resulting in food stagnation postpartum. Alcohol should not be consumed to excess to the point of intoxication; pre-labor intoxication causes weakness and immobility of the four limbs. Postpartum excessive alcohol intake may enter the blood level and limbs, potentially causing later complications such as bleeding disorders, limb weakness, and bone marrow/bone pain.