Re: Pregnant wife 5 weeks without bowel movement!

It appears your wife is throwing up every excuse possible to avoid responsibility for her health and the health of your baby. She needs to grow up and listen to reason. That is not meant to be unkind. As she's a former druggie, she's used to self indulgence, so only wants to do what she wants and likes to do. She doesn't like to do water, so she doesn't. Having said that, I suppose it could be fear that's causing her to act this way, but she's the holder of that little life, and needs to put her fears and self indulgence aside for the sake of her baby.

Colon therapy: Her fears of releasing toxins into her body from a colonic are probably unnecessary. By not having bowel movements, she is holding toxins in her body that could be/probably are affecting the child already. There is some concern about doing colonics while pregnant, up to a certain point, but if she's not in danger of miscarriage, then as others suggested, you might get a seasoned colon therapist, preferably one who is certified by IACT, you will probably be okay. The therapist should ask for a complete health history and note how far along she is. Do NOT, under any circumstances, hold back information on the health history. If the colon therapist feels it is unsafe, she/he will tell you. I chose not to do pregnant women, but there are exceptions.

Massage: I agree massage will help. Please, though, you MUST start on her right side (near the appendix), move upward until you get just about to her rib cage, then across the transverse colon, then down the descending colon. If you do this in the reverse, you will actually cause more constipation. In other words, you're to "go with the flow". The same is true when you massage her feet. Get a foot chart if you can. Start on her right foot just above the heel on the inside, go outward toward the outside of her foot, then up to about the middle of the foot (just under the ball joints), then across toward the inside of her foot. Then go directly straight across to her left foot and massage it in the direction toward the outside of her left foot, then down and back in. You're actually tracing the shape of the colon when you do this. In other words, you'll be going clockwise. When I was a colon/massage therapist, I had a cancer client who eventually reached the stage where she could no longer endure colonics or massage. I resorted to doing her feet only, using essential oils, and this resulted in good bowel movements for her.

It appears, though, this may have gone way beyond constipation in your wife's case, and may be an actual impaction. Still, massage and colonics can loosen and remove impaction. I once had a client who was saved from surgery for a huge impaction. She was not pregnant, though. If you get a massage therapist, get one who is familiar with massaging pregnant women, as there are some contraindications. Massage can also help make her delivery easier when the time comes.

As others have said, fiber, fresh raw juices, flax (ground up), good nutrition, perhaps a little aloe vera juice, and WATER, WATER, WATER. I suspect she'll balk at the aloe vera juice. Mixing it with other juices will help the taste. If she takes the fiber without lots of water, it will do her no good, and maybe harm.

I'm glad you're looking into ways to help her and your baby. I'm also glad she's responding some to the need for water. Both of you keep at it, ask God for direction, and keep us informed.