Omugwo, is a highly priced culture among the South Easterners of Nigeria. It is the name given to a practice where a mother or mother-inlaw comes for baby-sitting; most times two weeks after the birth of a baby. Most pregnant women look forward to this practice.
This is widely practiced by Ndigbo (the Igbo’s} and her neighbors.
The birth of a baby in Igbo land and other eastern Nigerian ethnic group means that, the nursing mother and child has to be ministered unto by a very close female relation. In most cases, the person who takes care of nursing mother and her baby is the mother. If the mother is not alive or around, her mother-inlaw performs the function.
Think about the excitement and joy of a mother on receiving the news of safe delivery of a baby and her daughter. The over joyous grandmother will step out to buy different delicacies and a live chicken meant specifically for the nursing mother and also some suitable gifts for the baby.
During this omugwo, the person that comes to do the omugwo takes over most of the house hold chores and responsibility.
Cooking {for both husband and wife}, cleaning and carrying the baby while the new mum rests. Mostly at night the new mum actually sleeps while the mother or whoever is there for omugwo stays awake with the baby.
However, there have been some sort of expanded roles for mothers coming for omugwo. Some mothers have used their omugwo period to make some extra cash by baby-sitting for other mothers. This is mostly pracriced in the U.K.
In most cases ile omugwo {baby-sitting} spans for 3weeks to 1month or even more as the case may be. It is at this point that childcare and handling education is passed.
The nursing mum will be taught a lot such as;
o How to bathe the baby
o How to feed the baby, when to know if the baby is well fed. How to breastfeed, when and how to make the baby belch.
o Sleeping positions for mother and child
o How to take care of your body. What to eat to get back to shape and trim your tummy.
o When to start sexual relations with your husband and how to go about it. There’re lots of knowledge dispersed.
After a well-deserved care and attention given to mother and child during the omugwo period, the mother will be set to go back home.
At this stage the couple will appreciate the mother or mother-inlaw for her assistance. Usually a worthy token is given with all sorts of food stuffs and some fabrics like hollandis as a parting gift.
It’s a tradition to send the mother home with some gifts and money but the amount here is not specific. Gifts are given based on the couple’s purse. Some couples go out of their way to please the mothers, and most times after omugwo go broke.
That’s a wrong approach, couples are to give based on their capacity. It’s the thought behind that matter not the gift.