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？每月来月经而胎儿继续生长的，名叫“盛胎”。这是因为妇女气血充盛，除了滋养胎儿之外，血液还有剩余的缘故。有几个月身孕的，如果发生大量出血，叫做“漏胎”。因为受到外界事物触动胎气，扰动任脉，所以血液下泄而不损伤子宫。然而怀孕期间失血，胎儿虽然未堕落，但气血也已亏损，大多会超过预产期而不能分娩。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，胚胎难以正常发育的缘故。凡是怀孕十个月后仍未生产的，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。《济生方》中说：人禀受元气于生命形成之初，十二经脉相互交替滋养。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能生孩子，如《辽史》所载，亟昔的妻子六十岁生了两男两女，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，所以叫做“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质虚弱的人，肝肾相火无时不起，所以体虚劳损的人，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。正如《内经》所说：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。其实是妇女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，滑伯仁诊察后说：这是鬼胎。女子于是说明了原委，随即给予破血坠胎的药物，排出像蝌蚪鱼目一样的东西，大约二升左右，病就好了。这难道真的是遇神交合吗？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，实际上是女子被神所感，从而导致了这种情况。
薛立斋说：鬼胎是因为七情相互干扰，导致脾肺亏损，血气虚弱，失去了正常的生理规律，冲任二脉失调所致，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，以免发生此症，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，面色有时发青有时发黄，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 continues to grow normally. There are also cases where, between three and five months of pregnancy, there is heavy bleeding but the fetus does not miscarry; some deliver at term, while others deliver after a month past the due date. What is the rationale behind this? Monthly menstruation with continued fetal growth is named "Sheng Tai" (Prosperous Fetus). This occurs because the woman's Qi and Blood are abundant; beyond nourishing the fetus, there is surplus blood. When a fetus of several months' gestation experiences heavy bleeding, it is called "Lou Tai" (Leaking Fetus). This happens because external stimuli disturb the fetus, agitating the Ren Mai (Penetrating Vessel), causing blood to flow downward without damaging the uterus. However, during pregnancy, blood loss depletes Qi and Blood. Although the fetus may not miscarry, the deficiency often leads to post-term delivery. I have witnessed 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 properly. For those who have passed ten months of gestation without delivering, one should administer herbs that greatly tonify Qi and Blood to nurture the body, thereby avoiding complications during delivery. *Ji Sheng Fang* states: Humans receive their vital Qi at conception, and the Twelve Meridians mutually nourish each other. If a fetus in the womb appears withered or dry, it is due to the mother's weak congenital constitution, which is insufficient for complete nourishment. This results in an imbalance of Yin and Yang and Qi and Blood, leading to either cold or heat conditions. The fetal sac loses nourishment, becoming withered and dry, thus failing to grow. It is best to supplement the mother's Qi and Blood, so that the fetus will naturally grow.
Li Shizhen stated: For women, Tian Gui (Menstrual Essence) arrives at age fourteen (2x7 years), and ceases at age forty-nine (7x7 years); 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. Conversely, some women give birth at ages fifty or sixty, as recorded in the *History of Liao*, such as the wife of Ji Xi who bore two sons and two daughters at sixty. These are extreme examples of abnormality.
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, leading to spiritual weakness, demonic essences can exert influence, presenting symptoms resembling pregnancy; hence it is called "Gui Tai" (Ghost Fetus). However, Yu Tianmin said: Thoughts entertained during the day appear in dreams at night. Individuals with licentious dispositions and weak constitutions experience constant activation of the Ministerial Fire of the Liver and Kidney; thus, those suffering from consumptive diseases often dream of intercourse with spirits. The so-called "Ghost Fetus" is a pseudo-fetus, not truly formed by spiritual intercourse. As stated in the *Classic of Internal Medicine*: Endless thoughts and unfulfilled desires lead to white leukorrhea and turbid urine, which flow into the uterus and congeal into 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? In Hua Borén's medical case records, there is the case of Ms. Yang. While visiting a temple at dusk, she saw a deity in yellow robes in the temple corridor, felt her heart stir, and that night dreamed of intercourse with him. Her abdomen gradually enlarged like pregnancy. Hua Borén diagnosed it as a Ghost Fetus. After she explained the cause, he prescribed blood-breaking and abortifacient herbs. She expelled material resembling tadpoles and fish eyes, totaling about two sheng, and recovered. Was this truly an encounter with a deity? The answer is: Such events occur, but the principle does not exist. How could a form made of wood and earth engage in intercourse to produce semen and form a fetus? Such a thing is impossible in the world. Investigating the cause, it was not the deity confusing the woman, but rather the woman being influenced by her own mental state induced by the deity.
Xue Lizhai stated: Ghost Fetus arises from the interference of the Seven Emotions, causing damage to the Spleen and Lung, leading to weak Qi and Blood and deviation from normal physiological patterns. Disharmony of the Chong and Ren Mai contributes to this condition, 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 syndrome, focusing on tonifying Yuan Qi and assisting with herbs that promote circulation and dispersal. A case involved a woman with amenorrhea whose abdomen gradually enlarged over eight months. Her complexion alternated between blue/green and yellow. Treatment with fetal disorders formulas failed. Examination revealed a blue complexion, choppy pulse, and alternating chills and fever, indicating Blood pathology of the Liver Meridian. Yellow complexion, abdominal distension, poor appetite, and fatigue indicated Blood pathology of the Spleen Meridian. This was a syndrome of Spleen and Liver injury due to depression and anger, not pregnancy. She was cured using modified Guipi Tang (Restore the Spleen Decoction) and Xiaoyao San (Free and Easy Wanderer Powder).