Chinese Embryology

1st month

The newly conceived being is like a drop of essence (jing), like a pearl of dew on a leaf. The mother experiences morning sickness, dizziness, and a lack of appetite. Her pulse is floating and tight. She should eat nourishing and easily digestible cooked foods. She is allowed to eat some sour foods if cravings arise. Barley, which makes the fetus grow normally, is beneficial at this time. Avoid acupuncture on the Liver meridian during this time as the fetus is nourished through this meridian. Blood circulation of the mother is impaired so she should be careful not to over exert herself physically. She should avoid becoming anxious and fearful. The fetus feels pain when the mother is exposed to cold and fear when the mother is exposed to heat.

Must Read: Pu Ji Xiao Du Yin – clears Heat, detoxifies, expels Wind/Heat

2nd month

The fetus is now like a peach flower and is situated at Zhong ji – Ren 3 (just above the pubic hairline). The placenta is being formed at this time and the mother may experience dizziness, blurred vision, nausea, vomiting, lack of appetite and slight fatigue. The mother should not eat pungent/spicy foods and should avoid excessive sexual activity and physical work. Joint pain is quite common at this time. The fetus is now nourished through the Gallbladder channel and therefore should not be needled. This is also the time that the Original Qi of the fetus comes into being so the mother should stay relaxed, breath properly and meditate. Exposure to excessive cold may bring about miscarriage and exposure to excessive heat may make the fetus weak.

3rd month

The fetus is now like a cocoon. It begins to look like a silkworm, large at one end and small at the other. The mother experiences nausea and vomiting and should avoid extreme cold or heat. Included now with any treatment of the mothers disease should be that of ‘calming the fetus’. The fetus’s body shape and sex are still changing and are under the influence of external stimuli of the mother. If she wants a son she should practice shooting arrows, if she wants a daughter she should spend time with jewellery and pretty things. For a nice looking child she should spend time feasting her eyes on jade and for a good hearted child she should spend as much time as possible sitting quietly. During this month the fetus is nourished through the Heart channel and therefore should not be needled.

4th month

The fetus and the placenta this month collect the Field of Elixir (Dan Tian). The mother should not eat Rabbit and should not be exposed to cold. During this time the fetus begins to absorb essence from the mother’s Kidneys to form blood vessels. The mother should now eat rice, fish or wild goose, this makes the fetus’s Qi and blood strong, its ears and eyes sensitive and bright, and its channels free from obstructions. In this month the fetus is nourished from the San Jiao meridian and should not be needled. The Yang organs are formed this month. The mother should keep herself calm and free from any emotional disturbance, and be moderate in her eating.

5th month

It is in this month that the gender differentiation occurs. A strange test; if one stands behind the pregnant woman and calls her, if she turns to the left it is male; if she turns to the right it is a female. Also if she is carrying a boy she will prefer sour foods. At this time the fetus is firmly embedded in the uterus and is steady. It is the 5th month that the fetus begins to receive Essential Qi of the Heart from the mother. This is to establish temperament. It is therefore advisable to sleep long hours, bathe and change clothes often, stay away from strangers, wear enough clothes and get exposure to sunshine. The mother should eat wheat, beef and lamb. She should also balance sweet with sour foods and bitter with salty. The fetus is nourished this month through the Spleen meridian and should not be needled there. The limbs are formed. The mother should not eat too much or go hungry. She should not eat drying foods or have Moxibustion or hot compresses or water bottles applied.

6th month

In this month the muscles and hair grow. If it is a boy his movements will be felt more on the left and if it is a girl the feeling will be more on the right. The fetus is now described as being like a fish in the mother’s abdomen. During this month the fetus receives the mother’s Lung Qi, which forms sinews and gives the child its Corporeal (physical) soul, great care should be taken with this in mind. The mother should take light exercise and not stay indoors all the time. She should go to the countryside to look at horses or dogs running around and should eat meat of wild animals. Doing this will make the fetus grow strong sinews, muscles, skin, and spine. The fetus is nourished through the Stomach meridian and should not be needled there. The mouth and eyes are formed and the mother should eat sweet foods but not in excess. The fetus will now move more which may lead to restlessness.

7th month

In the seventh month the fetus grows big, the eyes are bright, the nose has Qi, the ears are open and the mouth can taste. At this time the mother is usually very healthy, but if there is any problem one should implement ‘calming the fetus’. The fetus begins to receive Essential Qi from the mother’s Liver to form bones. The mother should take enough exercise to promote the circulation of Qi and blood by flexing and extending her joints. Her bedroom should be dry. She should avoid cold foods and eat rice, which will nourish the fetus’s bones and teeth. The Lung meridian nourishes the fetus this month and therefore should not be needled. The skin and hair develop, the mother should not shout or speak in loud tones or wear too thin clothes. She should also bathe less often.

8th month

This month the Qi of the fetus becomes active and this may cause some irritability with a feeling of oppression in the chest, lack of appetite and all food may taste sweet or stale. Problems at this time should be checked by regulating the Stomach and ‘calming the fetus’. The Essential Qi from the mother’s Spleen now promotes the growth of the skin. At this time the mother should avoid emotional upsets and practice quiet breathing to maintain her Qi, which will promote a moist lustrous skin on the fetus. The Large Intestine meridian nourishes the fetus this month and therefore should not be needled. The mother should avoid over eating and getting angry.

9th month

Now the fetus is very large, reaching into the hypochonrial regions. The mother still may feel oppression in the chest and a lack of appetite. This is the time when the fetus receives Essence from the mother. All the organs are formed. The mother should eat sweet foods, wear loose clothes and not live in dampness. The fetus is now nourished through the Kidney meridian and therefore should not be needled.

10th month

The fetus is now ready to emerge. The limbs stretch as it naturally turns and starts its downward descent. All Yin organs are developed and the Yang organs are free from obstructions. The mother should concentrate her Qi on the lower Dan Tian below the umbilicus to promote the growth of the fetus’s joints and mental faculties. The fetus is now nourished through the Bladder meridian and therefore should not be needled. ‘When the melon is ripe it falls off the plant’. The mother goes into labor.