Comments on: You might say I’m angry about this…

By: barbara

barbara — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 00:39:26 +0000

Thank you for your honesty…have been on Google looking up articles r/t circumcision. Our son is 20 months old we requested he be circumcised in the hospital before we went home. I too have always know it was not right; I spoke to the DR that delivered him and he actually was VERY defensive and said my son had a ‘short shaft…shrugged and said it is luck of the draw’…((can anyone imagine?) our Pediatrician is wonderful assured me he would be fine and that his penis was of course normal…laughed at the Dr’s response (I have a great sense of humor but have a difficulty finding this situation funny). It was our choice we wanted it to look like a circumcised penis like his father…instead our pediatrician admits he was not generous with the amount of removal of the foreskin…thus the tip is mostly covered and when we pull back to clean he says ‘ow ow owie’ and quickly covers it. But b/c if the poor job if we don’t pull back to show the tip it is not clean…I’m annoyed every bath night. Is this similar to your situation. The thought of putting him through pain breaks my heart…yet it seems to bother him anyway?! Would appreciate more info: barbara.byers@carefusion.com Thanks!!!!! Sorry for the babble…your kids are so adorable!!!

By: Wren

Wren — Tue, 09 Feb 2010 16:51:41 +0000

With my oldest they used something called a ‘plastibell’ and the results were not what I’d hoped, but no one ever said anything about redoing it. My youngest was done with a razor (or whatever the sharp instrument was) and it looks so much better.

By: leah

leah — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 19:02:05 +0000

I agree with Laura. My mom had an attack when I didn’t circ my son (now 2.5) and tried to tell me I needed to retract it. NEVER EVER DO THAT. It’s like ripping off a fingernail. I actually smacked a nurse’s hand once for trying to it to my son.

Good luck with Finn’s surgery. For anyone reading this, if you are going to circ, I’ve heard getting a Rabbi to do it is best. Just a thought.

By: ~Laura

~Laura — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 15:26:59 +0000

@Carol Alaniz,

Your pediatrician was negligent and you were ignorant about how to clean an intact penis. You don’t need to retract it, it is SUPPOSED to be fused to the head of the penis until he is an adolescent. You simply wipe like a finger… no wonder he was screaming. It’s so sad that our culture in the US is so ignorant of the natural penis that not even our pediatricians know what “normal” is. =(

~Laura

By: Ian Cooper

Ian Cooper — Mon, 08 Feb 2010 06:00:17 +0000

It’s incredible to me that you folks are talking about circumcision as if it were the most natural thing in the world to do to a child. And the ignorance regarding penile care is astonishing! No wonder so many intact American kids grow up with infections when so many parents and professional caregivers in the USA don’t even know that a child’s foreskin must never be pulled back in order to clean under it. Intact kids whose parents know how to take care of their boys’ penises don’t get infections.

People who torture and mutilate their own children should be in jail, not happily talking about their abuse as if it were normal and healthy. Hopefully, one day, blogs like this will be used as evidence in sexual abuse cases, because make no mistake – that’s what this discussion is all about.

By: Ruth

Ruth — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 17:13:56 +0000

@Allison,
My first 3 sons were circumcised by my OB in the hospital which was law in that state.. and they were messy looking, not done well and didn’t heal smoothly. I always thought the Ped should do it – he’s the baby specialist after all… My 4th son was done by a Christian Jewish Mohel who also happens to be a physician. It was clean, appeared bloodless and noticeably less inflamed and, according to his Daddy (who watched and somewhat participated), his crying didn’t change between the outrage of being spread-eagled naked and the procedure itself. He had a specialized surgical stainless steel kit which was better than a scalpel for sure, it worked as a guide for each step. Also, Daddy’s job was to dip his finger in wine and drop it in the baby’s mouth… a slight anesthetic I guess! and a way to give him something to do. I’d recommend that option to anyone, if only you can find a willing Mohel.

I also slathered on plenty of Neosporin because it helps it to keep from re-attaching the wrong way and of course keeps the gauze and diaper from sticking; the pee from burning; the infection risk minimal…

By: onepianomom

onepianomom — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:59:00 +0000

Stressful! One of our sons had to start having repeat procedures(not for the same procedure as yours) from about 6 months on that required anesthesia. Since he was still nursing at the time, he did not have to fast for as long as the doctor initially told me. The breast milk is digested quicker than other baby food so the possibility of having food in his stomach is low. You might check with your doctor.

By: Jodi J.

Jodi J. — Sun, 07 Feb 2010 00:10:37 +0000

@Cindy, You are correct in speaking that it is after puberty that the foreskin needs to be pulled back and cleaned daily and I should have clarified myself. Thanks.

By: Allison

Allison — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 14:52:09 +0000

@Cindy, it was actually done in my OB's office...go figure

By: Sam

Sam — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 14:50:49 +0000

You are correct! That is why a pediatrician who KNOWS proper care of an intact boy is so important! There are so many docs and nurses who are misinformed and think it needs to be pulled back. NEVER let anyone pull back your boys’ foreskin! It makes me cringe. I guard my son’s penis like crazy when we must go to a doctor for check ups. I don’t know why people are so misguided and ill informed.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 14:00:36 +0000

@Jodi J., Speaking as a mom to two intact boys and wife to an intact husband, yes, the foreskin does need to be pulled back and cleaned underneath *once it has separated from the glans and shaft* which normally doesn't happen until puberty. To do so any earlier would be like ripping your fingernails off (similar to what a baby feels when he is circumcised without any pain meds).

By: Jodi J.

Jodi J. — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 05:22:48 +0000

Ok, first off, your kids are adorable! Secondly, my nephew had to have a re-circ when he was around a year. (Speaking as a nurse)-Sometimes little boys have small irregular areas around the penis that makes circumcision difficult when they are newborn. A few months to grow makes all the difference-and sadly there is usually not a great way to tell if they will need re-circ’d until you get into the procedure itself. Thirdly-speaking as a nurse again- in response to one of the anti-circumcision comments, the foreskin DOES need to be pulled back and the head of the penis needs to be cleaned. Daily. And then the foreskin needs to be put back in place. If this does not happen, the foreskin will shrink and the tip will start closing and growing back together. I have seen 70 and 80 year old men have to be circ’d because things have grown together from lack of proper care. Just as most little boys would go weeks without a bath if left on their own, so will many older men (when left alone). Sad, but true.

By: Melanie Gore

Melanie Gore — Sat, 06 Feb 2010 05:09:17 +0000

That picture of Finn in the knit cap is too cute.

By: Cindy

Cindy — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 20:02:10 +0000

I only have girls, but have always wondered why the OB who is a skilled surgeon doesn’t perform circumcisions and instead it is done by the pediatrician – is it that way everywhere? Good luck! He’s precious!

By: Sara

Sara — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 19:52:39 +0000

Oh gosh. I would be a “tad” angry too. I was hesitant about someone cutting on our son when he was born in May. I couldn’t imagine having to let them do it a 2nd time. Best wishes to sweet Finn.