一、接生之方法
怀胎足月，自然瓜熟蒂落而生产。生产原属平常之事，只要接生得法，自然母子平安，其有流于难产，
或伤其母，或伤其子者，皆由平时不守胎教，或临时手忙脚乱故也。接生之要旨，要在临产使母子平安经过，
其方法最宜熟谙，其性情宜忍耐，其手段宜敏捷，盖能忍耐则不致催迫孕妇，动手过早，能敏捷则产后
处理母子，简速妥贴也。今将其步骤述之如后∶一曰临产宜慢，孕妇足月腹痛，有时属于试痛，并非真正
临盆之期。至于临盆之期，必腹痛腰痛，一齐俱作，更进一步，则阵阵作势，一阵紧一阵，方是将落地之时，
故接生者于孕妇腹痛时，只宜安慰，不可动手，俟其腰痛作阵，胞浆破裂，然后徐徐待其落地，略见胎儿
颅顶，方扶持头颅，轻轻曳下，即顺遂产出矣。若逼令产妇用力过早，或动手过早，反足酿成横生倒产
之弊，伤及胎儿也。二曰临产宜忍，产妇腹痛，总宜忍耐，愈能忍痛，生产愈易，最忌畏
痛，曲身蜷卧，则气血不舒，胎儿碍于转动，则产出必然较难也。三曰临产宜静，产妇房中，只须有老成接
生者二人看护已足，切忌亲戚探望，家人麇集，使房中空气混浊，声音杂乱，产妇神志为
之不宁，最好使产妇忍痛，略为散步，舒其气血，或扶人缓行，或挺身仰睡片时，使产妇调养心神，
爱惜气力，则胎儿产出，决不致有何等困难矣。
二、落地之调护
落地之时之首宜注意者，为室中之温度，炎夏之时，室中虽
不可大开窗户，亦宜流通空气，毋令太闷；严冬之候，更宜使室中温暖，毋使有冷酷之寒气（煤炉过热及煤
气弥漫亦大为不宜）。若在平时，总以室中较暖为宜，盖胎儿在母腹中，较外界为温暖也。譬如当夏月产生
之孩，宜先以单夹之布裙围之，待洗浴后，再易以单夹之衣，当冬月产生之孩，宜急以重棉裹之，然后再及其
他，此初落地之措施也。
落地之调护约有数端，皆宜以谨慎敏捷之手段出之，以免伤及婴孩，酿成种种变端也。一曰洗浴。婴
孩生下后，接生有两人者，一人料理产母，一人料理婴孩，如只有一人，可将婴孩简单
包裹，放置一旁，料理产母毕（时间亦不过数分钟），然后预备开水，放入硼酸少许，调和之，俟其
温度可洗，即以之浴儿（水以较热为佳，不可过于低温），浴时用洁净药棉，遍身淋洗，手续宜快，浴毕，再
用洁净毛巾，擦干水湿，然后以消毒利剪，为之断脐。亦有生下不洗浴先断脐者，非因天时太寒，即由时
间不及，则宜于三朝日，燃火取暖，为之洗浴，浴水有用桑、槐、榆、桃、柳各嫩枝三五寸者数十节煎长
汤，混入猪胆汁少许代水者，取其清凉解毒，浴毕亦有用滑石、甘草细末或松花扑之，
以免娇嫩之皮肤受湿而擦伤也。二曰断脐。婴孩生下，不洗浴则已，若须洗浴，必先洗浴而后断脐，决不可
先断脐而后洗浴，盖先断脐而后洗浴，则水湿风寒，俱易袭入脐中以致病也。断脐之法，接生者一手握脐带近
胞衣处之一段，一手将脐带推挤数次，使胞中之血贯注脐穴，然后握紧于离脐六七寸处，以绵线紧扎，
用消毒洁净之利剪迅速剪断，再用枯矾掺软，帛上包裹，于脐上亦满掺枯矾，再将脐带盘置脐上，外用纱
布包裹，绕背紧扎，俟其干燥，随时将护，三数日后，脐带脱落（若未脱落净尽，切防扯动受伤），此时
脐眼新嫩，宜以软帛药棉封裹数日，内中或掺以粗纸煨成之纸灰（覆地去火毒），或枯矾细末，或松花均可，
更须时时看护，防其受湿受伤，免致脐风脐烂等症也。三曰挤
乳。婴儿初生，无论男女，两乳必有饼子，接生者宜于洗浴时将两乳头各挤一把，捏去些须乳汁，则肿硬自消
。四曰穿衣。婴孩衣服，宜用洁净之旧帛制成，不宜加边，四周皆毛，故曰毛衣，
为其柔软而不伤皮肤也。穿时切忌卤莽而伤及婴孩筋骨，又忌迟滞而累及婴孩受寒。五曰洗口。分娩之时，
婴儿初离母体，口中含有液毒，如血块状，接生者宜乘其头颅方出产门，啼声未出
时，以敏捷之手法挖去之。及至啼声一出，随即咽下，不及挖去矣，此种液毒之块，咽下有害肠胃，并酿成
口内诸病，然不及挖去者多，故婴儿穿着已毕，宜行拭口之法，以清洁其口腔，普通以甘草、银花煎汤，用药
棉遍洗口内，热毒重者，宜用黄连煎汤洗之，略有咽下，亦属不妨。嗣后每间三四小时，拭洗一次，硼
酸冲水，大黄煎汤，皆可通用。更须洗眼，当初次洗时，两眼内可滴以稀硝酸银一二滴，其后可以硼酸冲
水，时时揩拭眼角眼皮，盖婴儿生下，经过产门、胞浆之类，侵入眼中，未免有毒，生后切宜注意及之，庶
免酿成目疾，贻患将来也。以上五种，为初生落地普通调护之法，至于初生急症，有时不得不为特殊之调
护者，容俟后节述之，俾临时知所措施也。
一、接生之方法
怀孕足月，自然像瓜熟蒂落一样分娩。生产原本是一件平常的事，只要接生方法得当，自然母子平安。那些导致难产，或者伤害母亲、伤害孩子的情况，都是因为平时不遵守胎教，或者临产时手忙脚乱造成的。接生的关键要点，在于确保临产时母子平安经过，其方法必须熟练掌握，性情要忍耐，手段要敏捷。因为能忍耐就不会催促孕妇过早动手；能敏捷则产后处理母子事宜简捷迅速且妥帖。现在将其步骤叙述如下：
第一，临产宜慢。孕妇足月腹痛，有时属于试痛（假性宫缩），并非真正临盆的时期。至于真正临盆的时期，必定是腹痛和腰痛同时发作，更进一步，阵势一阵紧似一阵，这才是即将分娩的时候。所以，接生者在孕妇腹痛时，只应安慰，不可动手，等到腰痛成阵，胞浆破裂后，然后慢慢等待胎儿落地，略微见到胎儿颅顶时，才扶持头颅，轻轻拉下，即可顺遂产出。如果逼迫产妇过早用力，或接生者过早动手，反而足以造成横生倒产（异常胎位）的弊端，伤害胎儿。
第二，临产宜忍。产妇腹痛，总宜忍耐，越能忍受疼痛，生产越容易。最忌讳畏惧疼痛，曲身蜷卧，这样会导致气血不畅，胎儿阻碍转动，那么产出必然比较困难。
第三，临产宜静。产妇房中，只需有两位老练的接生者看护已足够，切忌亲戚探望，家人聚集，使房中空气混浊，声音杂乱，导致产妇神志不宁。最好让产妇忍耐疼痛，稍微散步，舒展气血，或者扶人缓行，或挺身仰睡片刻，使产妇调养心神，爱惜气力，那么胎儿产出，绝不会有什么困难了。
二、落地之调护
婴儿落地之时，首先需要注意的是室内的温度。炎夏之时，室内虽然不可大开窗户，但也应流通空气，不要令太闷热；严冬之时，更应使室内温暖，不要让有冷酷的寒气侵入（煤炉过热及煤气弥漫也极为不宜）。如果在平时，总以室内较暖为宜，因为胎儿在母腹中，比外界温暖。譬如当夏季出生的孩子，宜先用单夹层的布裙围住，待洗浴后，再换上单夹层的衣服；当冬季出生的孩子，宜急忙用厚棉包裹，然后再做其他处理，这是初落地时的措施。
婴儿落地的调护约有几方面，都应以谨慎敏捷的手段进行，以免伤及婴孩，酿成种种变故。
第一，洗浴。婴孩生下后，若有两名接生者，一人料理产母，一人料理婴孩；如果只有一人，可将婴孩简单包裹，放置一旁，料理完产母后（时间也不过几分钟），然后预备开水，放入少许硼酸，调和它，等到温度适宜洗浴时，就用它来给婴儿洗澡（水温以较热为佳，不可过于低温）。洗浴时用洁净的药棉，遍身淋洗，手续宜快。浴毕，再用洁净毛巾，擦干水湿，然后用消毒利剪，为婴儿断脐。也有生下不洗浴先断脐的，如果不是因为天气太寒，就是由时间来不及，那么宜于第三天，燃火取暖，为其洗浴。洗浴用水有用桑、槐、榆、桃、柳各嫩枝三五寸长的数十节煎成的长汤，混入少许猪胆汁代替水的，取其清凉解毒之意。浴毕，也有用滑石、甘草细末或松花扑洒的，以免娇嫩的皮肤受湿而擦伤。
第二，断脐。婴孩生下，如果不洗浴就算了；若须洗浴，必须先洗浴而后断脐，决不可先断脐而后洗浴。因为先断脐而后洗浴，则水湿风寒，都容易侵袭进入脐中以致生病。断脐的方法，接生者一手握住脐带近胎盘处的一段，一手将脐带推挤数次，使胎盘中的血液灌注到脐穴，然后握紧在离脐六七寸处，用绵线紧紧扎住，用消毒洁净的利剪迅速剪断，再用枯矾掺软，用帛包裹，在脐上也满撒枯矾，再将脐带盘置在脐上，外用纱布包裹，绕背紧扎，等到干燥，随时看护，三数日后，脐带脱落（如果未脱落净尽，切记防止扯动受伤）。此时脐眼新嫩，宜用软帛药棉封裹数日，内中可掺以粗纸煨成的纸灰（去除火毒），或枯矾细末，或松花均可。更须时时看护，防止其受湿受伤，免致发生脐风、脐烂等病症。
第三，挤乳。婴儿初生，无论男女，两乳必有“奶头”（乳腺肿胀），接生者宜于洗浴时将两乳头各挤一把，捏去些须乳汁，则肿硬自然消除。
第四，穿衣。婴孩衣服，宜用洁净的旧帛制成，不宜加边，四周皆毛，故曰毛衣，因为其柔软而不伤皮肤。穿时切忌鲁莽而伤及婴孩筋骨，又忌迟滞而累及婴孩受寒。
第五，洗口。分娩之时，婴儿初离母体，口中含有液毒，如血块状。接生者宜趁其头颅刚出产门，啼声未出时，以敏捷的手法挖去它。等到啼声一出，随即咽下，就来不及挖去了。这种液毒之块，咽下有害肠胃，并酿成口内诸病。然而不及挖去的很多，所以婴儿穿着已毕，宜行拭口之法，以清洁其口腔。普通以甘草、银花煎汤，用药棉遍洗口内；热毒重者，宜用黄连煎汤洗之；略有咽下，也属不妨。嗣后每间隔三四小时，拭洗一次，硼酸冲水，大黄煎汤，皆可通用。更须洗眼，当初次洗时，两眼内可滴以稀硝酸银一二滴，其后可以用硼酸冲水，时时揩拭眼角眼皮。盖婴儿生下，经过产门、胞浆之类，侵入眼中，未免有毒，生后切宜注意及此，庶免酿成目疾，贻患将来。以上五种，为初生落地普通调护之法。至于初生急症，有时不得不为特殊调护的，容待后节叙述，以便临时知道如何采取措施。
I. Methods of Midwifery
When pregnancy reaches full term, delivery occurs naturally, like a ripe melon falling from the vine. Childbirth is originally an ordinary event; as long as the midwifery methods are appropriate, mother and child will naturally be safe. Cases that develop into dystocia (difficult labor), or injure the mother or the child, are all due to not observing prenatal education in daily life, or being flustered at the time of delivery. The key point of midwifery lies in ensuring that mother and child pass through safely during labor. The methods must be thoroughly mastered, the temperament should be patient, and the actions should be agile. Patience prevents urging the pregnant woman to act too early, while agility ensures that postpartum care for mother and child is simple, rapid, and appropriate. The steps are described below:
First, labor should proceed slowly. When a pregnant woman experiences abdominal pain at full term, it may sometimes be false labor pains (Braxton Hicks contractions) and not the true time of delivery. True labor requires both abdominal pain and lower back pain to occur simultaneously. Furthermore, when the intensity increases, with each contraction becoming tighter than the previous one, this is the time when birth is imminent. Therefore, when the pregnant woman has abdominal pain, the midwife should only offer comfort and not intervene physically. Wait until the lower back pain becomes rhythmic and the amniotic sac ruptures, then wait patiently for the baby to descend. Only when the fetal vertex is slightly visible should the head be supported and gently guided down, allowing for a smooth delivery. Forcing the parturient to exert effort too early, or intervening too soon, can lead to malpresentation (abnormal fetal position), injuring the fetus.
Second, endurance is needed during labor. The parturient should endure abdominal pain; the more she can tolerate the pain, the easier the delivery. It is most taboo to fear pain and curl up in bed, as this causes stagnation of Qi and blood, hindering fetal rotation and making delivery difficult.
Third, quietness is required during labor. In the delivery room, two experienced midwives are sufficient for observation. Relatives visiting or family members gathering should be strictly avoided, as this leads to stale air and noisy environments, disturbing the parturient's mind. It is best to let the parturient endure pain, take a slight walk to promote the free flow of Qi and blood, or walk with support, or lie on her back for a moment to nourish the spirit and conserve energy. Thus, fetal delivery will encounter no difficulties.
II. Care Immediately After Birth
The first thing to note at the time of birth is the temperature of the room. In summer, although windows should not be fully opened, air circulation should be maintained to prevent stuffiness. In winter, the room should be kept warm to avoid exposure to cold drafts (overheating with coal stoves and carbon monoxide accumulation are also highly inadvisable). Generally, a warmer room is preferable because the fetus in the womb is warmer than the outside environment. For example, a baby born in summer should initially be wrapped in a single-layered cotton skirt; after bathing, change into single-layered clothing. A baby born in winter should be quickly wrapped in thick cotton before other procedures. These are the initial measures upon birth.
Care after birth involves several aspects, all requiring cautious and agile handling to avoid injury to the infant and potential complications.
First, bathing. After birth, if there are two midwives, one attends to the mother and the other to the infant. If there is only one, wrap the infant simply and set aside. After attending to the mother (which takes only a few minutes), prepare boiled water with a small amount of Boric Acid (Borax solution), mix well, and use it for bathing once the temperature is suitable (warmer water is better, but not too cold). Use clean medicinal cotton to wash the body gently; the procedure should be quick. After bathing, dry the moisture with a clean towel, then cut the umbilical cord using sterilized scissors. Some do not bathe immediately but cut the cord first; this is done either due to extreme cold or lack of time. In such cases, bathing can be delayed until the third day with heating. Bathing water may consist of decoctions of young branches of Mulberry, Locust Tree, Elm, Peach, and Willow (3-5 cun pieces, dozens of segments), mixed with a little Pig Bile (Suizhudan) for its cooling and detoxifying properties. After bathing, Talcum Powder (Huashi), Licorice Root (Gancao) powder, or Pine Pollen (Songhua) may be dusted to prevent the delicate skin from irritation due to moisture.
Second, umbilical cord management. If the infant is not bathed, fine; if bathing is necessary, the cord must be cut *after* bathing, never before. Cutting before bathing exposes the stump to water, dampness, wind, and cold, leading to disease. To manage the cord: hold the segment of the umbilical cord near the placenta with one hand, and squeeze the cord several times with the other hand to ensure placental blood flows into the umbilical vein. Then, grasp the cord about 6-7 cun away from the navel, tie it tightly with silk thread, and quickly cut it with sterilized scissors. Apply soft Alum (Kufan) powder, wrap with cloth, and sprinkle more Alum on the navel itself. Coil the remaining cord stump onto the navel, cover with gauze, and bind securely around the back. Monitor until dry. The cord usually falls off in 3-5 days (do not pull if not completely detached). At this stage, the navel is tender; wrap with soft cloth and cotton for a few days. Internally, one may apply ash from roasted coarse paper (to remove fire toxicity), fine Alum powder, or Pine Pollen. Constant monitoring is required to prevent dampness and injury, avoiding conditions such as Neonatal Tetanus (Qifeng) or Umbilical Ulceration (Qilan).
Third, squeezing milk. Newborns, regardless of gender, often have swollen breasts ("witch's milk"). The midwife should squeeze each nipple slightly during bathing to expel some milk, resolving the swelling and hardness.
Fourth, dressing. Infant clothing should be made of clean, old linen/cotton, without borders, featuring frayed edges ("wool clothes"), as they are soft and do not irritate the skin. Dressing must be done carefully to avoid injuring bones and tendons, and promptly to prevent chilling.
Fifth, cleaning the mouth. At birth, the infant may contain toxic fluids or blood clots in the mouth. The midwife should use agile techniques to remove these while the head is still emerging and before crying begins. Once crying starts, the fluid is swallowed, making removal impossible. Swallowing these toxins harms the gastrointestinal tract and causes oral diseases. Since immediate removal is often missed, wiping the mouth is necessary after dressing. Commonly, decoctions of Licorice Root (Gancao) and Honeysuckle Flower (Yinhua) are used with cotton to wipe the oral cavity. For severe heat-toxin, Coptis Decoction (Huanglian Tang) is used. Minor swallowing is acceptable. Subsequently, wipe every 3-4 hours using Boric Acid solution or Rhubarb Decoction (Dahuang Tang). Eyes must also be washed. Initially, 1-2 drops of dilute Silver Nitrate (Xiao Suansinyin) may be instilled. Thereafter, wipe the corners of the eyes and eyelids frequently with Boric Acid solution. Fluids and membranes from the birth canal entering the eyes can be toxic; attention is crucial to prevent ophthalmia and future eye diseases.
The above five points constitute the standard care for newborns. Special care for neonatal emergencies will be discussed in subsequent sections to guide immediate action.