To circumsize or not to circumsize????

[DoulaMama]

A FANTASTIC write up on this topic

http://www.naturalparenting.com.au/f...o-know/97757/1

[Sunset]

I am so so happy I live in the UK and don't have to think about such decisions! It is very rare to circumsize here and I have never seen a circumsized penis myself and if I did I think I would think that would look very strange! Surgery on babies for cosmetic reasons is just very wrong IMO and i don't think infections and this and that is a valid excuse either because if it truly was better for a man not to have foreskin on his penis then men simply wouldn't be born with foreskin! It's there for a reason, just like we've got labia and eyelids for a reason! but we don't remove labia for cosmetic reasons unless of course you live in some tribes in Africa.

[grasshopper]

I am fairly sure we will be having the procedure done if we end up with a boy...if the decision were only mine to make it wouldn't be happening but my husband feels VERY strongly about any son he has being circumcised.
It is rather uncommon here in Oz nowadays so I will be expecting my husband to take charge in this situation and find the Doctor etc.
I can fully understand why people feel strongly against this, but peole have their reasons for doing things no matter how odd they may appear to others and I am glad this thread hasn't deteriorated into nastiness as I have seen happen with the same topic on other sites.

[glory]

Grasshopper you are in WA right? I can let you know the procedure in Perth Will PM you soon! Just jumped on to order pizza lol

[grasshopper]

Yep, in WA...Awesome Glory...thanks. From what I can work out it seems pretty hard to find a Doctor in Perth that does it. DH asked a midwife about finding a Doctor while we were pregnant with DD#1 and was very quickly shut down with a big frown and some clipped comments. Any info would be much appreciated...ta.

[purple sky]

We are Muslim and did it for religious reasons, but I think I would have chose to circ regardless for other reasons. My two oldest had it done in the hospital the day after they were born and healed very quickly with out any problems.I actually don't even think I saw what they (penis) looked like before the circ's. My ds3 had it done at his pediatrician's office a few days after he was born. I remember thinking it looked like an ant eater. Very different than what I was used to seeing. He also healed very quickly without issues. However, My DH was raised Christian is NOT circumcised and wishes his parents did it when he was younger. My step-son who is a year older than my oldest son is also not circumcised and is embarrassed about it. I believe it is a personal decision. I also believe that it's just as wrong to judge and criticize a circumcision as it is to criticize the decision to keep your son intact.

[Cinss]

I don't think i could do it. My DP is uncircumsized so i would think a little boy would like to look the same as his daddy.

[zanacal]

Like Sunset, I live in the UK - and I have to say I had no idea that people routinely did this (except for religious reasons) unless there was a medical reason to do so. I'm actually completely baffled and it's something I would never even consider.

[nuthinbutpink]

Like Sunset, I live in the UK - and I have to say I had no idea that people routinely did this (except for religious reasons) unless there was a medical reason to do so. I'm actually completely baffled and it's something I would never even consider.

Where we live, it is routinely performed. I am not sure any of my friends of families' children are not circumcised as it would not be the norm to be intact. My DH is and I did ask him about it and he responded by asking if I wanted him to be made fun of his whole life. I think it is an unusual accepted practice but I can tell you that doctors do think that there will be less "issues" if you have it done- that is what mine said from their experience. It is not why we did it though. It's because he now looks like his dad and it's really not a big deal at that age. It's not something my DH has ever gone looking for. I do understand why it seems crazy if you are not from here and that is not what you are used to. It just is the norm here and that is why it is done. I am nearly 100% certain that all our family and friends have it done.

[Jamie86]

I had my 1st son circumcised and definitely regret it. He does not look circumcised at all and I've had to take him to several specialists who told me this happens "all the time" with newborn circumcisions and they have to redo them daily. They then told me my son would have to go under general anesthesia and the procedure would be purely cosmetic so I decided not to redo it and I will never have any more boys circumcised and I'm really glad the circumcision rate is dropping in the US. DH had the same thing as DS1 so he does not look circumcised at all and I've never found a single issue with it. I also really don't understand how infant female circumcision can be illegal when it is done for all the same reasons (religion, hygiene, culture, to look like mommy or just it looks "better") and male circumcision is not only legal but widely practiced.