Ọmụgwọ  is an Igbo word of the South-Eastern Nigeria tribe that describes the process of which another woman usually mother or grandmother takes care of a new mother and her baby after childbirth. Though this word is from the Igbo tribe this concept is prevalent in most West African and BIPOC cultures at large. Ọmụgwọ is done during the first 40 days of a child’s life or more, with the main focus on the first few days after birth.  The importance of this practice is that it supports the mother’s postpartum recovery and helps the mother learn through guidance from the wise women of the village on the many aspects of infant care.

The cause and effect of certain adverse historical events is that this important cultural supportive care has greatly diminished almost to complete erasure.The most affected group is low income women, African American and vulnerable immigrant women. Enough statistical data shows this group of women and their babies suffer greater undesirable outcomes.

Omugwo International, O. Community Doulas’ mission is to reestablish this cultural support throughout postpartum in addition to evidence-based doula peer support and advocacy during pregnancy and birth.  

Why do we do this work?

Perinatal time is one of if not the most vulnerable time in a woman’s life and can be very anxiety filled; this is only magnified with low income and/ or a part of a vulnerable group of women. African American women’s mortality rate being three times more than non hispanic White women this statistic alone can cause a lot of fear.

Oftentimes these mothers do not have adequate support systems during pregnancy, birth and postpartum causing exacerbated anxiety. During the postpartum period these women are not only tasked with taking care of their convalescing bodies but a newborn as well.  This overload can cause detrimental mental and physical health outcomes for mommy and baby. The Omugwo support should not be a luxury but the basic right to every postpartum mother.