Omugwo Chronicles -22

This Blog Visitor had too many people stepping in to do her Omugwo..hehehehe

Hello Stella,

Lovely blog you got. 

I am Igbo married to a Yoruba man. Both of us have no mothers. My elder sisters live in Port Harcourt while I live in Lagos. 

In my 3rd trimester,I was still confused on who will help me out after I put to bed. My elder sisters have little kids all under 6 years and my EDD was during school session. My husband told me he would find an aunt that would help me. 

He didn't make efforts maybe he thought my mum will rise from the dead. 

As I was new in Lag, I became friends with an elderly lady in church. I begged her to come around whenever I give birth. She accepted. I told my pastor that I may travel to PH to give birth, so I can be with family as I know nothing about nursing a baby. He told me not to worry that I should register with the women's department, that they will nurse me. 

One of my elder sisters volunteered to come when my husband called her. She came when I was 36 weeks gone. She asked for the things I bought. She helped me out buying more necessity. I didn't know delivery towels were different from normal towels. She stayed 2 weeks and left because baby didn't come and she needed to continue her business.

When I gave birth, I called that elderly lady in church. She came and helped me with washing and going to the market. She would stay from morning till evening. I finally stopped her from coming after the naming ceremony because her business was suffering. I told her to do business so that her business wont suffer.Nice Edo woman. 

An Ìgbo nurse who assisted in my delivery came to my house to cook pepper soup for me,2 days after I came back from hospital(4days after delivery). I saw my husband enjoying his portion. I asked if it was for him. He said it was our pregnancy. That he was replacing the energy he lost in depositing the sperm.

 The nurse taught him how to massage me with hot water. He did a fine job. He would also tie the wrapper on my stomach. I asked him if he had another wife and kid because he did both jobs well. We laughed.

A Yoruba grandma that worked in the hospital whom I contacted to do the catering for the naming stepped in as my baby's grandma. This woman taught me how to bath and nurse a baby. After 5days of giving birth, I started taking care of my baby myself. Most times, when these 2 women come, I have already bathed baby and fed her. I was breastfeeding exclusively. My husband's colleague, an Igbo woman, bought stockfish,dryfish,peppersoup spice,crayfish,yam etc for me. I also stuffed my house. Food everywhere. 2 weeks after my delivery, no more visitors came regularly. 

 I did all myself having learnt well. 

My women's fellowship members came on a Sunday and stayed for one hour. (Well, i was new and hadnt made their acquaintances well).They gave me the traditional amount of money they give nursing mothers. Nice of them.

Thank God I spoke to that elderly lady. If I didn't, I may have been stranded initially thinking they would come to nurse me. 

My father came two months after. He brought stockfish, bag of rice,onions,money etc. I laughed. He would carry the baby. Once baby cries,he would say,"bia kuru nwa gi"(come and carry your baby). 

He left after 5days. 

My sisters came during the school holidays but it was a relaxing time because I got everything. They would even send me text not to bath the baby,that they would like to do it when I was ready. They would tell me to sleep while they take care of baby and only wake me when I needed to breastfeed. I do my house chores as if I was alone but most times,they stop me and take charge. 

Because I was mostly alone after one week, I didn't eat much so I didn't gain excess weight. When I went for my 6th week appointment, I was already weighing 3kg less than I weighed when I was pregnant.

Most people told me that I did well for a first time mother. My husband would ask me if I had given birth before. 

Anyway, we are a funny couple.

*Hehehehe this one na multi colored Omugwo!