Omugwo: the Cherished Igbo Cultural Practice That Helps Young Mothers to Understand Motherhood and Childcare
Among the Igbo of Eastern Nigeria, There Is an Age-Long Cherished Cultural Practice Called Omugwo. Simply Put, It Is a Period During Which a New Mother Is Cared for by Her Mother or Mother-in-Law.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Omugwo Is Done
Omugwo Kickstarts Immediately After a New Mother Gives Birth. Culturally in Some Parts of Igbo Land, Such as Ebonyi State, Both the Mother of the Husband and the Wife Must Go for Omugwo in Separate Periods. in Ebonyi State, the Wife's Mother Goes When the First Child Is Born. on the Arrival of the Second Child, It Becomes the Turn of the Husband's Mother. This Turn-by-Turn Procedure Is Strictly Followed and Respected.
Preparations for Omugwo
Apart from the Husband, the Mother Going for Omugwo Also Has Some Responsibilities. the Mother Who Must Have Had the Knowledge That Her Daughter or Daughter-in-Law Is Pregnant Starts Preparing for Her Journey Even Before the Delivery Date.
What a Mother Does During Omugwo
Immediately She Arrives, the Mother Who Comes for Omugwo Goes to Work. Omugwo Is Misunderstood to Be a Period of Enjoyment, but It Is Not. It Is Actually a Lot of Work, Where Knowledge Is Transferred to the New Mother, Who Must Be Confused About Many Things. There Are So Many Things That a Mother Does During Omugwo.
How Long Does Omugwo Last?
The Number of Days a Mother Stays for Omugu Varies, Depending on the Family. in the Past, Omugwo Used to Last as Long as Three Months of Continuous Teaching and Learning. However, Many Families Now Shorten This to Two Weeks.
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