To circumsize or not to circumsize????

[Roonarpia]

I have never had to think about this before, obviously, and I didn't think the decision would be so hard!?!? Please weigh in on what you think. I know the risks of the procedure and I have no religious reason to do it so please tell me your opinions

[purplepoet20]

Both my boys have had it done... I watched because I was afraid of the Dr accidently cutting it off. But we decided to have it done for several reasons. My Grandpa was Jewish and he believed it should be done for religious reasons. And my hubby and family have had it done and because the men in his family shower together while on vacation and are a open family we decided to make sure all the men looked the same.

If you don't have it done it is not that hard to care for it... 1st year just wipe baby like any other baby. After 1st year you do have to pull the skin down to clean inside, but by 3-5 a child can learn to do this on their own in the bath. Some people say uncirc boys get more infections but I think it is from the lack of cleaning. My uncle was not circ as a baby and had fertility issues and in adulthood had it done and within 6mths got his wife pregnant after 15 years of trying.

If you do have it don... only have the Mogen Clamp or the Bell Clamp/Ring they are the safest. Never ever let them use a lazer or freehand knife. The ring takes longer and I don't like how long you have to watch it (my lil bro had one and it took 2wks), looks infected and gross until it is finally done. I chose the Mogen Clamp because of less accidents and it was fairly fast... 15 mins for it to be done, 2 days before it looked healed, no infections or bleeding. All I did was reapply a vasiline gauze with every diaper change, Dr said only a few times a day but I didn't want any infections.

Most people believe a child should be left intacted but other say a boy should look like daddy. There is a rise in uncirc boys but still most are circ. Some kids are made fun of in High School for not being circ but very few boys are naked in school these days because of bullying, butit is because of who is bigger and whatever. The schools in AZ have banned boys from removing their underwear and showers are now seperated.

[iyamaryam]

Oh hun, I was just reading up webmd about this ysdy. I will do it cos of culture, religion and lifestyle. My DH, father n bros are circ n it's just what we are used to. I feel it's a personal decision though. Before I came to the states, I never even knew people had a choice about doing it or not. GL with what you decide.

[Roonarpia]

Purple, thanks for the reply! That was helpful information for sure, I had no idea there was more than one way to circumcise, really good to know! I guess my big thing is: why cut something off of a penis for no reason (unless you are Jewish of course). My DH is circumcised but I know of a lot of men who are not. Uhhh, why is this so hard!??! I don't think I would have given it another thought but my BFF's baby boy had issues long after his was done and it really bothered me. His grew together and they would have to pull really hard on it to get it back...ICK...poor baby! Any other opinions???

[rainbowflower]

my DH is too for medical reasons (TBH we'd have struggled to conceive without this I think!), if a future checkup reveals our son has a similar thing we'll get it done while he's younger rather than put him through that as an adult like my DH had to go through!

if not, we won't get it done

[BabyCakes]

Although is completely a personal decision. I really feel like its not necessary. In Europe, the general feeling is that if its not part of religious tradition, then its not done. http://www.circumstitions.com/reasonsnotto.html

I perfectly understand the choice either way and asked many friends and family before making up my mind for my son so I know how it feels to just want your son to fit in and yet not put them through any unjustified discomfort.

GL

[purplepoet20]

Forgot to mention.... when it is done on infants they are awake, arms wrapped in receiving blanket, legs and waist straped to a little board, mother or nurse gives the baby sugar water, the area is numbed but still a lot of crying starts as soon as baby is strapped. I did give my sons Tylenol (no Motrin because it thins the blood) an hour before and right after. It was very painful to watch your baby screaming and not being able to hold them during, only touching the head. My hubby did get very sick with DS1 and he was looking at the wall ten feet behind the Dr, Hubby left the room and when it was done he came back in crying and wouldn't let our son go for a very long time.... so leave hubby at home with ice cream and beer!

Sometimes I did question whether we really needed to do it but now that they are older I am happy by the desicion. They have never had any infections, they don't have to do anything special in the shower to clean, and aiming on the potty is easier... My nephew was not circ and he is 4 now. He has had 5 infections and one turned really ugly and he was hospitalized.

There are pictures online of the Mogen clamp and other clamps being used, some are pictures of adult men so wait until hubby and kids are out of the room. Even though it may be hard on you I strongly req researching and studying the pictures, and being in the room so you can watch and make sure all is done right. Call Dr's for pricing or insurance coverage (here it is done at the peds office and we paid out of pocket $250 other peds were going to charge $500). As soon as it is done and the diaper is on nurse and sing to your baby so they can rest and feel safe again. When the circ is done away from you it can take up to 30-60 mins before you get your baby back and they will be crying the whole time for you.

I chose the Mogen Clamp because it doesn't remove to much skin. And later in life the skin that is left looks normal for the erection.... yes I was thinking about how my boys would look to a future partner. Other clamps and freehand tends to remove to much skin making it very tight and uncomfortable for the erection. I did see one website that some kids had to go in and have more skin removed at 2 years old because the Drs thought there was to much skin left on but it is not nessecery because if 1/8-1/4 of an inch is removed then it is perfect anymore then 1/2 or an inch is to much.

[purplepoet20]

Here are some good websites... some of these clamps are no longer used

http://www.circumcisionquotes.com/methods.html

http://www.circumcisionquotes.com/rdr5.html <-- Mogen Clamp infant pictures

http://www.cirp.org/library/procedure/plastibell/ <-- Plastic Bell 2nd best but takes up to 10 days for skin to fall off, more infections with this one. Looks scarier for men to see this on a baby.

Gomco Clamp Method scared me because they cut the skin before the clamp is placed and this can increase accidents. The other plastic clamps I don't believe are used everywhere or anymore.

An infant should be circ after 5 days old so they have time to bond with a mom and have a strong nursing conection.

[LolaInLove]

I had a boyfriend once who was not circumcized and he wished he was....it is much less clean, from what he told me. I would have my boy look like Daddy, personally. Another issue....the locker room one. Old bf said he got teased a lot. Uncircumcised is NOT the norm and it may be something stupid he has to deal with that is really no big deal and a lot cleaner. Just my 2 cents!

[purplepoet20]

I don't wont to force anything on anyone but here are sites for people against circ...

http://www.cirp.org/library/hygiene/osborn1/
http://www.fathermag.com/health/circ/uncircumcised/
http://www.mothersagainstcirc.org/
http://www.mothersagainstcirc.org/fleiss.html
http://www.compleatmother.com/circ.htm
http://cirp.org/
http://www.alternamoms.com/circ.html
http://www.circumcision.org/mothers.htm <--- moms who watch circ, yes scary but I was more scared of my boy ending up without a penis.

I did tons of research (from 18wk US until 8mth preg) and asked hubby to read the articles too before we decided. We decided together what we wanted and called many peds Dr's to find the one that would do what we wanted and would let me be their for my baby, som Dr's don't let mom watch.