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After a woman has given birth, her Qi and Blood are not yet stabilized. She should not lie down to sleep, nor sit on her side. It is necessary to place thick mattresses at the head of the bed, leaning back in a high, supine position. The knees should be kept upright, not extended, and the four walls should be enclosed without gaps to prevent "thief wind" (pathogenic wind) from causing harm. If she closes her eyes and lies down, or if anger causes Qi to rebel, it will lead to dizziness and vertigo.

Applying vinegar to the nose, using vinegar-heated charcoal in the room, or burning lacquerware items, followed by gently massaging from the heart area down to the umbilicus with the hand, will ensure the complete discharge of lochia. In this way, how could blood syncope or blood rebellion occur?

It is common to see people drinking a cup of hot neonatal urine immediately after delivery. Others drink a mixture of neonatal urine and wine, warmed, five to seven times within three days. I believe that although wine can promote the downward discharge of lochia and facilitate milk flow, the visceral Qi is just becoming deficient postpartum. Even those who are accustomed to drinking alcohol should not consume much, nor should they drink immediately after delivery. This is because it may draw blood into the four limbs or cause it to rise upward, leading to blood syncope.

As for neonatal urine, its taste is fishy and its nature is cool. For those with weak Stomach Qi, the fishy odor may induce nausea and vomiting. For those without internal heat, the cool nature may stagnate the Blood and damage Stomach Qi; thus, it is not suitable.

It is better to prepare Shenghua Tang (Life-Restoring Decoction) in advance and take it immediately after delivery. Alternatively, dissolve brown sugar in boiling water and drink it frequently to move Blood stasis. Eating thin white rice porridge at regular intervals, cooking Sciaenops ocellatus (Croaker), and consuming them blandly will ensure proper care and recovery without issues.

Some people use more than ten fresh mussels (Mytilus edulis) before the month of delivery, wrap them in paper, hang them in a ventilated place for over twenty days to dry naturally without others knowing. Immediately after delivery, decoct one cup of the liquid and drink it hot; the mother will not fall ill again postpartum.

Shenghua Tang (See the discussion on Shenghua Tang later in this volume.)

Once delivery is complete, there is no need to ask whether the baby is male or female. One must avoid speaking excessively, which might leak Qi, or experiencing love and hate, which might strain the Spirit. Great joy and great anger are strictly forbidden. Joy scatters Qi, potentially causing red sweat (postpartum hemorrhage). Anger causes Qi to rebel, potentially forming masses (Jia). One should not live alone, fearing deficiency-induced palpitations. One should not scrape the tongue, fearing damage to Heart Qi. One should not brush teeth, fearing Blood rebellion. One should not comb hair frequently, fearing scalp pain. Only when Qi and Blood have recovered can one attend to affairs. Violating these taboos may seem trivial as an autumn hair, but the resulting illness can be as heavy as a mountain.

For the first postpartum period, beef, mutton, pork, chicken, goose, duck meat, eggs, pig trotters, pig kidneys, mung bean jelly, buckwheat noodles, and similar foods—all of which obstruct Qi, are tough, and difficult to digest—as well as raw, cold, greasy, and slippery foods, are all unsuitable. This is because the Spleen and Stomach Qi are deficient after new delivery, making transportation and transformation difficult, easily leading to internal injury.

If delivery occurs in summer, one must absolutely not sleep or lie down facing the wind. Eating cold food, using fans, washing feet, and bathing are strictly forbidden. Even in peak summer, cold water should not be used to wash hands and feet.

New mothers are suddenly extremely deficient and must strictly avoid cold. Cold causes Qi and Blood to stagnate, generating various complications. It often leads to indigestion, abdominal pain, and diarrhea. At this time, if one tries to remove Blood stasis, the Healthy Qi will collapse; if one tries to stop the diarrhea, the stasis will remain bound. Can one not be cautious? See the Diarrhea section for treatment methods.

If delivery occurs in winter, the abdomen should be protected with thick cotton. Even in summer, it should be wrapped with cloth to prevent the Jueyin (Liver) channel from receiving cold.

Within one hundred days postpartum, avoiding cursing, minimizing labor, and abstaining from sexual intercourse ensures lifelong health and fertility. If intercourse occurs before one hundred days are completed, deficiency, emaciation, and myriad diseases will arise. Symptoms such as coldness below the umbilicus, soreness and pain in the hands, feet, waist, and legs will manifest, known as Chulao (Postpartum Exhaustion), which is the most difficult to treat.

Postpartum, do not use wine infused with Sichuan pepper, ginger, and mugwort. Although heat may help circulate blood clots, it disturbs the newly formed Blood. Even Amomum villosum (Cardamom) decoction can disturb Blood and is therefore contraindicated.

Postpartum milk is formed from Qi and Blood. Salty foods should be avoided because saltiness stops bleeding, preventing milk production, and can trigger difficult-to-treat coughs.

Postpartum conditions vary by region. In the south of the Yangtze River, new mothers eat eggs immediately after delivery. Despite warnings about risks and benefits, this custom persists without fear, and many remain healthy. I must follow local customs, instructing them to boil eggs lightly in plain water, which still has the benefit of nourishing the Stomach and resolving phlegm.