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Fetal death. Only Foshou San (Buddha's Hand Powder) is suitable. After taking it, the fetus will naturally be expelled. If it does not come out, take another dose of Pingwei San (Calm the Stomach Powder) with 2-3 qian of Poxiao (Mirabilite). This can make the dead fetus dissolve and pass out extremely easily. The ancient methods for formulating prescriptions each have profound significance, and they have been verified repeatedly; they do not deceive us. Do not use strange or bizarre remedies to harm the mother's life.

Someone asked how to know if the fetus has died. The answer is: if the mother's face is red and her tongue is blue, the mother lives while the fetus dies; if the mother's face is blue and her tongue is red, the fetus lives while the mother perishes; if both the face and tongue are blue, both mother and fetus die. Furthermore, the distension and pain caused by the expulsion of a dead fetus differ from normal childbirth.

Someone asked why the placenta (bao yi) fails to descend. The answer is: this is always due to premature labor. At the time of delivery, the joints open; robust individuals close them within a few days, while frail individuals may take a month to close them. Now, forcing the fetus out before the natural opening occurs causes the bony aperture to close immediately after the fetus exits, preventing the placenta from being expelled in time.

It is also said: It is heard that this is an extremely malignant condition that can endanger life. Is this true? The answer is: No need to worry. There is no need for medication, nor should one panic. If the placenta does not come out, urgently tie the umbilical cord with coarse hemp thread, fold the cord double and tie it again, hang a light weight on it to keep it taut, and then cut the umbilical cord. After three to five days, the placenta will naturally atrophy, dry up, shrink, and be expelled. This method has been verified many times. Simply inform the parturient woman to reassure her and eliminate fear. Do not listen to midwives who recklessly attempt manual extraction; many have died because of this. Be extremely cautious.

Scanty lactation is due to blood deficiency. For instance, if the parturient woman loses excessive blood during delivery, or was ill before delivery, or belongs to a poor family where servants lack proper postpartum care leading to withered blood vessels, or is around forty years old with declining qi and blood, all these can result in a lack of milk. Simply taking Tongmai Tang (Unblocking Vessels Decoction) will naturally produce milk. If one recklessly uses herbs such as Chuan Shan Jia (Pangolin Scales) and Wang Bu Liu Xing (Vaccariae Semen), it is often ineffective. Even if flow is forcibly established, the milk will be thin and watery, failing to sustain the infant's longevity, and damaging qi and blood, leading to various postpartum illnesses and rapid cessation of lactation, which is undesirable.

The *Da Quan Fang* states: Women may give birth at seven or eight months of pregnancy, or even after one, two, or four years of gestation; this must be known. Yang Zijian's *Shi Chan Lun* (Treatise on Ten Types of Childbirth) is extremely detailed. My discussions are largely based on this work. However, it is regrettable that it is somewhat lengthy; how can one grasp its essentials when reading it hastily? I have carefully recorded the chapter on "Injuring the Fetus," which is sufficient to cover the matter.

There are cases where, one month before full term, there is sudden pain in the navel and abdomen resembling labor pains, yet nothing happens. This is called "Shi Yue" (Trial Month) and is not true labor. Before the proper time for delivery arrives, one must absolutely avoid having someone support the waist, and the parturient woman must not exert herself recklessly. Because the fetus's body is not yet in position, if the midwife encourages the mother to exert force blindly, the fetus may shift slightly but then be forced off course by the mother's effort, resulting in transverse or breech presentation, unable to be born normally. This is all due to improper timing of the mother's exertion. Whenever the mother exerts force, she must wait until the fetus is aligned and approaching the cervix, then push once to deliver the baby. This is the correct timing for exertion. If one exerts force before the proper time, injuring the fetus, and takes medications to induce early birth, it is like pulling shoots to help them grow—harmful rather than beneficial. This is called "Shang Chan" (Injuring Labor).

Academician Xue stated: When labor is imminent, feeling fetal movement inside the abdomen, one should lie supine with the body straightened, waiting for the fetus to turn downward. When intermittent pains occur, try pinching the middle joint of the mother's middle finger; if the proximal joint throbs, labor has begun, and delivery will follow soon.

The general principle states: Childbirth has its own timing. Before the time arrives, one must absolutely not forcefully use催产药 (labor-inducing drugs).

It also states: One must absolutely not get onto the birthing bed ("sitting on grass") and must not allow midwives to handle the patient recklessly.

Mr. Zhu Danxi stated: For inducing labor, only use Foshou San (Buddha's Hand Powder); it is the safest and most effective.

He also stated: Postpartum treatment should primarily focus on greatly tonifying qi and blood. Even if other symptoms exist, they should not be treated first (prioritize treating the root).