INTRODUCTION
The Postpartum Period also known as the Postnatal Period begins right after a woman gives birth and lasts for about 6 weeks or more depending on the state of health of the mother and baby. This period is culturally very significant to the people of the NorthWest Region of Cameroon. During this period experienced family members like mothers and other elderly women come to care for the mother and baby.
The Postpartum Period is the most critical and neglected phase in the lives of mothers and babies; most maternal and newborn deaths occur during this period. The people hailing from the grasslands of Cameroon have managed to defile this mishap to an extent, through cultural practices which keep mother and baby in good shape.
Traditional Postpartum Family Care in the North West Region of Cameroon
During the postpartum period, the following practices are accustomed by the people of the Northwest region:
- Special baths for mother and baby, for example, Sit baths, including navel and penile care for the baby.
- Cleaning of the environment where the mother and baby live.
- Neighbours and family well-wishers cook delicious and healthy food like pepper soup, fufu corn and kate kate, achu, etc. for the family throughout the postpartum period.
- It is traditional for the mother to lie close to the baby for long hours on a clean bed with brand-new beddings.
This period is also characterized by baby shower celebrations (Born-House) and baby naming ceremonies where songs are sung and gifts are offered to the mother and the child. In Bamenda, the name Born-house transcends the celebrations to refer to the entire postpartum period. The name Born-house for the Bamenda people is like “Omugwo” to the Igbo people.
The Benefits of Postpartum Family Care (Born-House)
- The delicious and nutritious meals served to the mother replenish the stressed-out tissues of the mother during pregnancy and childbirth and promote the flow of breast milk for the nourishment and growth of the baby.
- The resting time allocated for mother and child prevents subsequent backaches or complications to the mother and increases the bond between mother and child. This has been proven to increase the flow of milk and to prevent and treat many symptoms of diseases in newborns.
- The gifts offered to the baby include baby powders, camwood, kernel oil, food, warm clothing, wrappers for the mother, and many others. These gifts are of great socio-economic significance to the mother and child; they reduce stress and increase the availability of basic postpartum needs.
- Postpartum Depression is common and has very serious consequences for the mother and baby as it can lead to suicide, severe headaches and many other dangerous actions and symptoms. The postpartum family visit is a therapy on its own that defeats Postpartum Depression and leaves the mother and baby with all the psychosocial support they need.
- The attention given to the mother and the baby acts as an alarm in case there is any emergency that needs professional medical care.
The Setbacks of Postpartum Family Care (Born-House) and ways to improve it
- Single mothers and teenage deliveries hardly benefit from this tradition. By including all mothers despite their status in society, the Born-house can significantly reduce maternal and infant mortality.
- The postpartum family care in the NorthWest Region of Cameroon is gender biased in that only women are supposed to go for these visits. By ensuring gender equality in these activities, everyone can enjoy this priceless tradition of the Bamenda People.
- Modernisation and shift in activities is drastically reducing postpartum family care leading to the neglect of mothers and babies in the hands of doctors and nurses.
CONCLUSION
The traditional postpartum family care of the people of the Northwest Region is one of the endangered cultural practices that should be guarded diligently. It is advisable for the government of Cameroon to recognise this practice because of its impact on the reduction of maternal and child deaths and disability.
