In plain words
Omugwo is a tradition among the Igbo people of southeastern Nigeria. After a birth, the mother's own mother, or another older female relative, comes to live in the household for a period. She helps with the baby, cooking, cleaning, and the mother's rest. The practice is seen as a way of passing on care and experience from one generation to the next. Some families also keep certain food and bathing practices during this time. Other cultures have similar traditions of family care after birth. Mothers who are living far from family may find that omugwo is not possible, and many build similar support in other ways. The practice is described here as a cultural tradition with its own meaning for families.
The deeper version
Omugwo is a postpartum practice in Igbo communities in which a maternal relative, most often the mother's mother, stays with the new mother for several weeks. Its functions are described in ethnographic and public health accounts as physical help, infant care instruction, emotional support, and continuity of traditional knowledge. Postnatal care guidelines from the World Health Organization (2013) recommend that women receive home visits and family support in the early days, and that the family be involved in care. Little formal research has compared omugwo outcomes with other postpartum support models, and most accounts are qualitative.
Where it comes up
- Postpartum traditions around the worldNourishment and Traditions
- Postpartum doulas, night nannies, and hired helpSupport, Home, and Village
- What to bring a new mother (if you're the friend)Support, Home, and Village
- Grandparents and in-lawsSupport, Home, and Village
What mothers here say about omugwo
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Sources
- World Health Organization — WHO recommendations on postnatal care of the mother and newborn, 2013