或问∶娠妇有按月行经而胎自长者，有三五个月间，其血大下，而胎不堕者，或及期而分娩，或逾月而始生，其
理何与？按月行经而胎长者，名曰盛胎。其妇血气充盛，养胎之外，血有余故也。有数月之胎，而敌国大下，谓之
漏胎。因事触胎，动其任脉，故血下而不伤子宫也。然孕中失血，胎虽不堕，气血亦亏，多至逾月不产。曾见有十二
三月，或十七八月，或二十余月而生者，皆是血气不足，胚胎难长故耳。凡十月之后未产者，当服大补气血之药，
以培养之，庶无分娩之患。《总录》曰∶人受气于有生，十二经脉迭相滋养，凡胎处胞中或有萎燥者，由孕妇所禀怯
弱，不足自周，阴阳血气偏胜，非冷即热，胞胎失于滋养，所以萎燥不长也。惟宜资母血气，则胎有自而长矣。
李时珍曰∶女子二七天癸至，七七天癸绝，此其常也。有女年十二、十三而生子，如褚记室所载，平江苏达卿之
女，年十二受孕。有妇人年至五十六十而生子，如辽史所载，亟昔妻年六十，生二男二女，此又异常之尤者也。
人之脏脏调和，则血气充实，风邪鬼魅，不能干之。若荣虚卫损，精神衰弱，妖魅鬼精，得以感之，状如怀孕，故
曰鬼胎也。然虞天民曰∶昼之所思，为夜之所见。凡男女之性淫而虚者，肝肾相火，无时不起，故劳怯人，多梦与鬼交。
所谓鬼胎者，伪胎也，非实有鬼神，交接成胎也。即《经》所谓∶思想无穷，所欲不遂。为白淫白浊，流于子宫
之内，遂结为鬼胎。本妇自己之血液，淫精结聚成块，胸腹胀满，俨若胎孕耳。非伪胎而何？滑伯仁医验有杨氏女，
薄暮游庙，庙庑见一黄衣神人，觉心动，是夕梦与交，腹渐大如孕，伯仁诊之曰∶此鬼胎也。女乃道其故，遂与破血坠
胎之药，下如蝌蚪鱼目者，约二升许遂安。此非遇神交乎？曰∶有是事，实无是理，岂有土木为形，能与人交而有精成
胎耶？天下必无是理也。推其故，此非神之惑于女，实乃女之感于神，有以致之耳。
立斋曰∶鬼胎因七情相干，脾肺亏损，血气虚弱，失行常道，冲任有乖致之，乃元气不足，病气有余也。若见经
候不调，即行调补，庶免此症，以补元气为主，佐以行散之药。一妇经闭，八月肚腹渐大，面色或青或黄，用胎证药
不应，诊视之，面青脉涩，寒热往来，肝经血病也。面黄腹大，少食倦怠，脾经血病也。此郁怒伤脾肝之证，非胎
也，用加味归脾逍遥二药而愈。
有人问：孕妇有每月来月经而胎儿自然生长的，也有在怀孕三到五个月期间，大量出血而胎儿不堕落的，有的到了预产期分娩，有的超过一个月才生产，这是什么道理呢？每月来月经而胎儿生长的，称为“盛胎”。这是因为妇女气血充盛，在滋养胎儿之外，血液还有盈余的缘故。有数月身孕，却发生大量出血的，称为“漏胎”。因为受到外界事物触动胎元，扰动任脉，所以血液下行而不损伤子宫。然而怀孕期间失血，虽然胎儿不堕落，但气血也已亏损，大多会导致过期不生。我曾见过怀孕十二三个月、或十七八个月、甚至二十多个月才生产的，都是因为气血不足，胚胎难以发育长大的缘故。凡是过了十个月还未生产的，应当服用大补气血的药物，以培养身体，这样才不会有分娩方面的祸患。《妇人大全良方》说：人禀受元气于生命形成之初，十二经脉相互滋养，凡胎儿处在胞宫之中如果有枯萎干燥的情况，是由于孕妇先天禀赋怯弱，不足以周全滋养，导致阴阳血气偏胜，不是偏冷就是偏热，胞胎失去滋养，所以枯萎干燥而不能生长。只宜资助母体的血气，那么胎儿自然会生长了。
李时珍说：女子十四岁天癸至（月经来潮），四十九岁天癸绝（月经停止），这是正常的规律。有的女子十二三岁就生孩子，如褚记室所记载的，平江苏达卿的女儿，十二岁受孕。有的妇人五六十岁还生孩子，如《辽史》所载，亟昔的妻子六十岁生了二男二女，这又是异常中的极端情况了。
人的脏腑调和，则血气充实，风邪鬼魅就不能干扰它。如果营血虚弱卫气受损，精神衰弱，妖魅鬼精就能感应上，症状如同怀孕，所以称为“鬼胎”。然而虞天民说：白天所想的，是晚上所见到的。凡是男女性情淫乱且体虚的人，肝肾相火无时不起，所以劳损虚怯之人，多梦与鬼神交合。所谓的“鬼胎”，是伪胎，并非真有鬼神交接而成胎。即《内经》所说的：思想无穷，欲望不能遂心。导致白淫白浊，流注于子宫之内，于是结为鬼胎。其实是本妇自己的血液和淫精结聚成块，胸腹胀满，俨然像怀孕一样罢了。这不是伪胎又是什么呢？滑伯仁的医案中有杨氏女，傍晚游览庙宇，在庙廊下看见一个穿黄衣的神人，觉得心动，当晚梦见与之交合，腹部逐渐变大如怀孕状，滑伯仁诊断说：这是鬼胎。女子于是道出原委，便给予破血坠胎的药物，排出像蝌蚪鱼目一样的东西，大约两升左右，病就好了。这难道真是遇神交合吗？回答说：有这样的事，但没有这样的理，怎么会有土木构成的形体，能与人交合而有精气成胎呢？天下必定没有这样的道理。推究其原因，这不是神迷惑了女子，实在是女子被神所感，从而导致了这种情况。
薛立斋说：鬼胎是因为七情相互干扰，脾肺亏损，血气虚弱，失去了正常的运行规律，冲任二脉乖违所致，乃是元气不足，病气有余。如果见到月经不调，就立即进行调补，以免患上此症，以补益元气为主，佐以行气散结的药物。有一个妇人闭经，八个月后肚子逐渐变大，面色有时青有时黄，用治胎证的药无效，诊察发现面青脉涩，寒热往来，这是肝经血病。面黄腹大，少食倦怠，这是脾经血病。这是郁怒伤及脾肝的证候，不是胎孕，使用加味归脾汤和逍遥散两种药物而痊愈。
A question was raised: There are pregnant women who menstruate monthly while the fetus grows naturally, and there are those who experience heavy bleeding between three to five months of pregnancy without miscarriage. Some deliver at term, while others deliver after a month or more past the due date. What is the rationale behind this? Monthly menstruation with fetal growth is named "Sheng Tai" (Abundant Fetus). This occurs because the woman's Qi and Blood are robust; beyond nourishing the fetus, there is surplus blood. When a woman with several months of pregnancy experiences heavy bleeding, it is called "Lou Tai" (Leaking Fetus). This happens when external stimuli disturb the fetus, affecting the Ren Mai (Conception Vessel), causing blood to flow downward without damaging the uterus. However, blood loss during pregnancy, even if the fetus does not miscarry, depletes Qi and Blood, often leading to post-term delivery. I have seen cases of delivery after twelve to thirteen months, seventeen to eighteen months, or even over twenty months; these are all due to insufficient Qi and Blood, making it difficult for the embryo to develop. For those who do not deliver after ten months, one should administer herbs that greatly tonify Qi and Blood to nurture the body, thereby avoiding complications during delivery. *Zong Lu* states: Humans receive their vital Qi from conception, and the Twelve Meridians mutually nourish each other. If the fetus in the uterus appears withered or dry, it is because the mother's innate constitution is weak and insufficient to fully nourish the fetus. Yin and Yang, Qi and Blood are imbalanced, either cold or hot, causing the Bao Tai (Fetal Sac) to lose nourishment, resulting in withering and lack of growth. It is best to supplement the mother's Qi and Blood, so that the fetus will grow naturally.
Li Shizhen said: Women begin menstruating at age fourteen (Tian Gui arrives) and cease at age forty-nine (Tian Gui ends); this is the normal pattern. Some girls give birth at ages twelve or thirteen, as recorded by Chu Jishi regarding the daughter of Su Daqing from Pingjiang, who conceived at twelve. Some women give birth at ages fifty or sixty, as recorded in the *History of Liao*, where Ji Xi's wife gave birth to two sons and two daughters at sixty; these are extreme abnormalities.
When the internal organs are harmonious, Qi and Blood are substantial, and wind pathogens or demonic influences cannot interfere. If Ying Blood is deficient and Wei Qi is damaged, and spirit and vitality are weak, demonic essences can manifest, presenting symptoms resembling pregnancy, hence termed "Gui Tai" (Ghost Fetus). However, Yu Tianmin stated: Thoughts during the day become visions at night. Individuals with licentious natures and deficiency often experience rising ministerial fire in the Liver and Kidneys, leading to dreams of intercourse with spirits. The so-called "Ghost Fetus" is a pseudo-fetus, not an actual conception through spiritual union. As stated in the *Classic*: Endless thoughts and unfulfilled desires lead to white discharge flowing into the uterus, forming a ghost fetus. In reality, it is the accumulation of the woman's own blood and seminal essence forming a mass, causing chest and abdominal distension, resembling pregnancy. Is this not a pseudo-fetus? Hua Borun's medical case involves Ms. Yang, who visited a temple at dusk, saw a deity in yellow robes, felt her heart stir, and dreamed of intercourse that night. Her abdomen gradually enlarged like pregnancy. Dr. Hua diagnosed it as a Ghost Fetus. Upon hearing her story, he prescribed blood-breaking and fetus-expelling herbs. She expelled material resembling tadpoles and fish eyes, about two sheng in volume, and recovered. Was this truly an encounter with a deity? The answer is: Such events may occur, but the principle does not exist. How can wooden and earthen forms engage in intercourse to produce essence and form a fetus? Such a principle is impossible in the world. Analyzing the cause, it was not the deity confusing the woman, but the woman being influenced by her own perception, leading to this condition.
Xue Lizhai stated: Ghost Fetus arises from emotional disturbances damaging the Spleen and Lung, leading to Qi and Blood deficiency and deviation from normal pathways, causing disharmony in the Chong and Ren vessels. It is characterized by insufficiency of Yuan Qi and excess of pathogenic factors. If menstrual irregularities are observed, immediate regulation and tonification should be applied to prevent this condition, focusing on tonifying Yuan Qi and assisting with herbs that promote circulation and dispersion. A case involved a woman with amenorrhea whose abdomen enlarged over eight months, with complexion alternating between green and yellow. Treatment for fetal disorders failed. Examination revealed a green complexion, choppy pulse, and alternating chills and fever, indicating Blood disease in the Liver Meridian. Yellow complexion, abdominal distension, poor appetite, and fatigue indicated Blood disease in the Spleen Meridian. This was a syndrome of Spleen and Liver injury due to depression and anger, not pregnancy. It was cured using modified Guipi Tang and Xiaoyao San.