Cultivation in pregnancy

“A quote from the Classic of Childbirth:
In all cases, during pregnancy, align the heart properly and sit up straight, and become pure and empty, resembling Oneness.
When sitting, your mat must be properly aligned; when standing, do not lean to the side; when walking, stay in the center of the path; when sleeping, do not lie crosswise; when raising the eyes, do not look at perverse sights; when lifting the ears, do not listen to perverse sounds!
Do not speak recklessly; avoid joy and anger and grief and rage; make your thoughts harmonious!

Another quote: When King Wén was first conceived, his mother sat up straight, did not listen to perverse words or repugnant speech, did not speak recklessly, and walked straight and sat properly aligned. This is the reason why she gave birth to a sagely child.
All the various mothers of paragons of virtue paid appropriate attention to this.

Another quote: In the [first] three months of pregnancy, before the fetus has assumed a fixed form, it changes when it is exposed to things. For this reason, the mother should look at kings and lords, queens and imperial concubines, princesses and princes, and beauties. She should avoid looking at hunchbacks, weaklings and dwarfs, repugnant and decrepit people, and at monkeys.
If she wants to give birth to a male child, have her handle bow and arrow and shoot male pheasants, ride stallions and roam in the wild, and observe tigers and leopards and galloping horses.
If she wants to give birth to a female child, have her adorn herself with hair ornaments and earrings and wear jade bracelets.
If she wants to make her child beautiful, have her often look at white jade and beautiful gems, observe peacocks, and eat carp. If she wants her child to be full of wisdom and strength, she should eat beef hearts and barley.
If she wants her child to have great virtue, she must not sit in improper alignment and she must not lean to one side while standing.
This is what we refer to as “Outer Manifestation and Inner Transformation”!”

— Ishimpō 《醫心方》 vol. 22, chapter 2