《女科集略》曰∶女之肾脏系于胎，是母之真气，子所赖也。受妊之后。宜令镇静，则血气安和。须内达七
情，外薄五味，大冷大热之物，皆在所禁。使雾露风邪，不得乘间而入。亦不得交合阴阳，触动欲火。务谨节
饮食，若食兔缺唇，食犬无声，食杂鱼致疮癣。心气大惊而癫疾，肾气不足而解颅，脾气不和而羸瘦，心气虚
乏而神不足。儿从母气，不可不慎也。苟无胎动胎痛，泻痢风寒外邪，不可轻易服药。
《便产须知》曰∶勿乱服药，勿过饮酒，勿妄针灸，勿向非常地便，勿举重登高涉险，勿恣欲行房。心有大
惊，犯之难产，子必癫痫。勿多睡卧，时时行步。勿劳力过度，使肾气不足，生子解颅。衣毋太温，食毋太饱。
若脾胃不和，荣卫虚怯，子必羸瘦多病。如犯修造动土，犯其土气，令子破形殒命。刀犯者形必伤，泥犯者窍必
塞，打击者色青暗，系缚者相拘挛。若有此等，验如影响，切宜避之。
慎斋按∶以上二条，序胎前调理避忌之法也。
《素问》曰∶何以知怀子之且生？曰∶身有病而无邪脉也。
马玄台曰∶身有病者，经闭也。无邪脉者，尺中之脉和匀也。妇人怀妊一月，则阴阳之精尚未变化。二月则
精气正变，其气熏蒸，冲胃而为恶阻。至三四月，则恶阻少止，脉甚滑疾。盖男女正成形质，其气尚未定也。
至五六月以后，形质已定，男女既分。及八九十月，其脉平和如无娠。然非医者深明脉理，病者确明其故，难
以诊而知也。《脉诀》云∶滑疾不散胎三月，但疾不散五月母。至六月后，则疾速亦无矣。然亦有始终洪数不
变者，其气甚盛，不可一例拘也。故帝问怀子将生者，何以知之，正此意耳。伯言身虽有经闭之病，而无经闭
之脉。彼经闭之脉，尺中来而断绝，或按之全无者是也。此则脉体平和匀静，乃无病脉，至八月九月十月而
然，正怀子将生之候耳。
《女科集略》说：女性的肾脏与胎元相连系，这是母体的真气，也是胎儿所依赖的根本。怀孕之后，应当保持心境镇静，这样血气才能安和。必须使内在的七情（喜、怒、忧、思、悲、恐、惊）得以疏泄通达，外在的饮食五味（酸、苦、甘、辛、咸）要适度，大冷大热的食物，都在禁忌之列。要使雾露风邪等外邪，不能趁虚而入。也不应有房事交合，以免触动欲火。务必谨慎节制饮食，如果吃了兔肉导致孩子唇裂，吃了狗肉导致孩子无声，吃了杂鱼导致孩子生疮癣；或者母亲心气因大惊而受损导致癫疾，肾气不足导致解颅（囟门迟闭），脾气不和导致身体羸瘦，心气虚乏导致神志不足。胎儿禀受于母体之气，不可不谨慎。如果没有胎动、胎痛、腹泻、痢疾或风寒外邪等情况，不要轻易服药。
《便产须知》说：不要乱服药，不要过量饮酒，不要随意进行针灸，不要在非正常场所大小便，不要举重、登高或涉险，不要放纵欲望行房。心中若有大惊，触犯此条会导致难产，孩子必定患癫痫。不要过多睡卧，要时常行走活动。不要过度劳累，以免肾气不足，导致孩子出生时解颅。衣服不要太暖，食物不要吃得太饱。如果脾胃不和，营卫虚弱怯弱，孩子必定羸瘦多病。如果遇到修造动土，触犯了土气，会导致孩子形体破损甚至丧命。触犯刀伤者，孩子形体必伤；触犯泥污者，孩子七窍必塞；受到打击者，孩子面色青暗；被束缚者，孩子肢体拘挛。如果有上述情况，验证起来灵验如影随形，切须避开这些禁忌。
慎斋按语：以上两条，叙述的是胎前调理及避忌的方法。
《素问》说：怎么知道孕妇快要分娩了？回答说：身体有病症表现（如停经），但脉象没有病脉。
马玄台说：所谓“身有病”，指的是月经停止。所谓“无邪脉”，指的是尺部脉搏平和均匀。妇女怀孕一个月时，阴阳之精尚未发生变化。到两个月时，精气正在变化，其气熏蒸，冲犯胃腑而导致恶阻（妊娠呕吐）。到了三四月，恶阻症状稍止，脉象非常滑利快速。这是因为男女胎儿正形成形体体质，其气尚未安定。到了五六月以后，形体体质已定，男女性别已分。等到八九十月，脉象平和如同未怀孕一样。然而如果不是医生深明脉理，患者确切明白其中的缘故，很难通过诊察得知。《脉诀》说：“滑疾不散是怀孕三个月，只有疾速不散是怀孕五个月。”到了六个月后，疾速的脉象也就没有了。然而也有始终洪大数急不变的，这是因为其气血很旺盛，不能一概而论。所以黄帝问怀子将生者，何以知之，正是这个意思。伯言指出，身体虽然有停经的病症，但没有停经的病脉。那种停经的病脉，是在尺部脉来中断绝，或者按压完全无脉的情况。这里则是脉体平和匀静，属于无病之脉，到了八月九月十月呈现这种状态，正是怀孕将要分娩的征候。
*Fun Ke Ji Lue* (Collected Abstracts on Gynecology) states: The Kidney system in women is connected to the fetus; this is the mother's true Qi (vital energy), which the offspring relies upon. After conception, one should maintain a calm and tranquil state of mind, so that Blood and Qi remain harmonious and peaceful. One must ensure that the Seven Emotions (Joy, Anger, Worry, Pensiveness, Sorrow, Fear, Fright) are properly regulated internally, and that the Five Flavors (Sour, Bitter, Sweet, Pungent, Salty) are moderate externally. Foods that are extremely cold or extremely hot are strictly prohibited. This prevents pathogens such as fog, dew, wind, and evil influences from entering during moments of vulnerability. Sexual intercourse should also be avoided to prevent stirring up desire. Diet must be carefully regulated and restrained. For instance, consuming rabbit meat may cause cleft lip in the child; consuming dog meat may result in a voiceless child; consuming mixed fish may lead to skin sores and tinea. If the Heart Qi is severely shocked, it may lead to manic-depressive disorder (dianji); if Kidney Qi is insufficient, it may cause fontanelle delay closure (jie lu); if Spleen Qi is disharmonious, it may result in emaciation; if Heart Qi is deficient, it may lead to spiritual insufficiency. The child inherits from the mother's Qi, so caution is essential. Unless there are symptoms such as fetal movement pain, fetal pain, diarrhea, dysentery, or external pathogenic factors like wind-cold, medication should not be taken lightly.
*Bian Chan Xu Zhi* (Necessary Knowledge for Safe Delivery) states: Do not take medicine indiscriminately; do not drink alcohol excessively; do not perform acupuncture and moxibustion arbitrarily; do not defecate or urinate in abnormal places; do not lift heavy objects, climb high, or venture into danger; do not indulge in sexual desires. If one experiences severe fright, violating this rule may lead to difficult labor, and the child will likely suffer from epilepsy. Do not sleep or lie down too much; walk frequently. Do not overexert oneself physically, as this depletes Kidney Qi and may cause the child to be born with fontanelle delay closure (jie lu). Clothing should not be too warm, and food intake should not be excessive. If the Spleen and Stomach are disharmonious, and Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) Qi are weak and timid, the child will likely be emaciated and prone to illness. If one encounters construction or earth-moving activities and offends the Earth Qi, it may cause deformity or death to the fetus. Offending by knives causes physical injury; offending by mud causes blockage of orifices; being struck results in dark blue complexion; being bound leads to limb contracture. If such conditions occur, their verification is as immediate as shadow following form; one must strictly avoid these taboos.
Shen Zhai commented: The above two passages describe methods for prenatal regulation and precautions against taboos.
*Sù Wèn* (Plain Questions) states: How can one know that a pregnant woman is about to give birth? It is answered: The body presents with pathological signs (such as amenorrhea), but the pulse lacks pathological characteristics.
Ma Xuantai explained: "Body presenting with pathological signs" refers to amenorrhea. "Lacking pathological pulse" means the pulse at the Chi position (cun-guan-chi, specifically chi) is harmonious and even. In the first month of pregnancy, the essence of Yin and Yang has not yet transformed. By the second month, the essence and Qi are actively transforming; their steaming effect harasses the Stomach, leading to E Zu (morning sickness). By the third and fourth months, E Zu subsides slightly, and the pulse becomes very slippery and rapid. This is because the male or female fetus is forming its structure, and its Qi is not yet settled. By the fifth and sixth months, the structure is established, and gender is distinguished. By the eighth, ninth, and tenth months, the pulse becomes peaceful and resembles that of a non-pregnant state. However, unless the physician deeply understands pulse diagnosis and the patient clearly comprehends the reason, it is difficult to diagnose through palpation alone. *Mai Jue* (Pulse Classic) states: "Slippery and rapid without dispersion indicates three months of pregnancy; only rapid without dispersion indicates five months." After the sixth month, the rapid quality disappears. However, some cases show consistently full and rapid pulses without change due to abundant Qi and Blood; thus, one cannot apply a rigid rule universally. Therefore, when the Yellow Emperor asked how to identify impending childbirth, he meant precisely this principle. Boyan pointed out that although the body exhibits the symptom of amenorrhea, it lacks the pathological pulse associated with amenorrhea. The pathological pulse for amenorrhea is characterized by interruption or complete absence upon pressing at the Chi position. Here, however, the pulse body is peaceful, even, and quiet, representing a healthy pulse. This state appearing in the eighth, ninth, and tenth months is indeed the sign of impending childbirth.