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Summary
Omugwo is a revered practice, and the strong woman is seen as a badge of honour. However, both terms have promoted maternal suffering and increased the risk of postpartum depression. This article examines the detrimental effects of a negative omugwo experience and the strong woman ideology on the well-being of new mothers.
Barely three weeks after the birth of her child and stitches still throbbing every step, 33-year-old *Dolapo*, a small business owner and mother of one, shouldered the responsibility of cooking every day for the 17 members of her husband’s extended family. Instead of rest, she is burdened with an avalanche of house chores.
“After giving birth to my baby, I had to travel down to my husband’s village for the omugwo and naming ceremony. I went with my siblings, who helped me for the first week, but everything fell on me once they left. I cooked, washed, and bathed myself.
“Cooking was the worst — imagine me preparing meals for a family of 17 alone. I had a tear during childbirth, so even walking was painful. My worst moment came when the stitches loosened because of the heavy bucket of water I carried to the bathroom. I was told to go back to the hospital for another stitch, but I refused because I couldn’t bear that pain again. Since then, the wound has remained like that,” she told Naija Feminists Media.
Her story is not unusual because Dolapo is one of the many new mothers who endured maternal suffering under the pretence of omugwo. Instead of rest, they are burdened with chores, conform to traditional practices, entertain endless visitors and are silenced. Far from its reality to serve as support for new mothers, Omugwo has transformed into a platform where the strong woman ideology, maternal suffering and an enabling factor that perpetuates postpartum depression.
Similarly, Amaka, a 30-year-old mother of two and Lagos-based fashion designer, told Naija Feminists Media,
“Whenever I am cooking and the baby is crying, my mother-in-law brings him to the kitchen while urging me to hurry up. She doesn’t try to calm him, but instead waits for me to carry him. Then she goes back to her room to read her bible, leaving me to finish everything alone. I cooked, washed clothes, and cleaned the house. The only thing she helped me with was bathing the baby and pressing a hot towel soaked with water to my stomach. When I tried to complain to her about my exhaustion, she replied, saying new mothers must balance everything, be strong, and learn to multitask. Honestly, I was disappointed, depressed, and confused,” Amaka said.
According to Dr Lawal Muritador, a health expert at Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LASUTH),
“Strenuous activities like cooking, washing, cleaning, or even carrying heavy objects go beyond their physical strain. It can lead to Uterine Prolapse, fatigue, emotional exhaustion, and postpartum depression. It also reduced the mother’s ability to care and bond with the baby.”
The cultural practice of Omugwo in Nigeria
Traditionally, Omugwo is meant to be a period of care, support, and healing for new mothers. It is a postpartum cultural practice in which the new mother and her baby are cared for by her mother, mother-in-law, or any other respected elderly woman in the family.
This care includes providing essential emotional and physical support to help her recover from childbirth, bond with her baby, and transition gradually into motherhood. Omugwo is the generic term for postpartum care in Nigeria, although many tribes have unique names for it. In Yoruba land, it is called “Ojojo omo,” the Hausa and Fulani named it “Wanka’n jego,” and in Efik and Ibibio tradition, it is referred to as “Ukaan.” Despite the word differences, the purpose remains the same: to help new mothers transition into motherhood and ensure that both the mother and her baby receive optimum care and support.
Omugwo and Postpartum Depression
Statistically, 14.6% to 30% Nigerian mothers are affected by postpartum depression (PPD). It is a mental health disorder that can occur two to eight weeks after childbirth and can last up to a year if left untreated. Postpartum depression is a mental disorder characterised by persistent sadness, changes in sleep and appetite, excessive worry/crying, loss of energy and motivation, and difficulty in bonding with the baby. In the Nigerian society where being a strong woman is praised and silence is mistaken for strength, new mothers are pushed through physical, emotional, and psychological pain. Omugwo is meant to reduce maternal stress by providing rest and support, but many new mothers developed postpartum depression due to bad experiences.
Dr Muritador Lawal, a health expert at LASUTH, told Naija Feminists Media that,
“Rest is one of the important things a woman should have after delivery, because the body needs time to heal, repair tissues, and regain strength. It also supports mental health and prevents postpartum depression by keeping the mother in a stable emotional state. Thus, the postpartum period should be focused on recovery, not embodiment of stress.”
The Strong Woman Ideology
The strong woman ideology is a badge of honour for Nigerian mothers, and this is further promoted during the postpartum period. Hence, during Omugwo, this ideology manifests in powerful ways; the mother’s strength is tested. She catered to everyone, never showing her pain or vulnerability. Health experts warn that this cultural expectation ruins the mother’s well-being.
“The idea of a strong woman prevents mothers from speaking up about what they are going through. Even if they are in severe pain or notice unusual symptoms, they stay silent because they don’t want to be seen as weak,” Dr Lawal said. “This can lead to emotional isolation and unspoken pain, triggering postpartum depression.”
Through the medical lens
The postpartum period is a vulnerable time in a woman’s life. WHO recommends six weeks of adequate rest before returning to any activity. Gynaecologists emphasised that adequate rest is crucial for postpartum healing, and lifting heavy loads, multiple house chores, and standing for long hours increase the risk of severe fatigue and haemorrhage. Mental health experts added that constant exhaustion is a sure sign of postpartum depression, a condition that already affects one in seven mothers globally.
Dr Eli Miracle, who works in the medical outpatient department at Motayo Specialist Hospital, argued that placing pressures on an already exhausted woman who had gracefully carried pregnancy for nine months, lost a lot of blood during the process of childbirth, and had to breastfeed every three hours, triggers postpartum depression.
She advised that the solution to this abused postpartum care lies in understanding the true meaning and purpose of omugwo. She stressed that older generations need to be reoriented so they can understand that omugwo is not about being a strong woman, but about caring for mother and child.
“Husbands have a role to play too. They need to defend their wives and caution their mothers or any older woman who comes to stay with them for the omugwo. The mother-in-law can also accompany the new mother to post-natal care so that they can listen to what the doctor recommends,” she said.
She emphasised that there is a need for enlightenment among older women, and, most importantly, new mothers must speak out whenever they feel overwhelmed.
The Way Forward
Ms Rosaline Adewuyi, a gender advocate, expressed that everyone in the community has a role to play in curbing bad omugwo experience, including religious institutions. Ultimately, open communication is the key.
She emphasised that postpartum care should not be viewed solely as a woman’s responsibility. The community can organise regular get-togethers for older women who go for omugwo. These gatherings can serve as platforms to share knowledge and encourage collective support.
“Local government and NGOs can provide community-based support services, including counselling, home visits by trained health aides, and support hotlines for mothers in need,” added.
Deborah Orji, the legal team lead at Herbode, a women-focused organisation, suggested that the government should establish a structured postpartum support system where new mothers can have access to trained counsellors or maternal health professionals who can provide emotional and practical care.
Conclusion
Omugwo is perceived as a safe and supportive net for mothers to be cared for while gradually adjusting to the demands of motherhood. However, several mothers’ narratives showed it is a trap that reinforces the strong woman ideology, glorifying women’s suffering while dismissing their pain. Medical professionals urged spousal and community support.
Editor’s Note: The names asterisked are not the real names of the women interviewed. They were changed to protect them from stigmatisation.
