Circumcision? Confused? Opinions please?!?!

You can NOT get your child taken away because you didn't circ him. Whoever told you that is full of it. None of my boys are circed. Medically, it's considered a procedure done purely for asthetics, which means there is no MEDICAL reason to do it. My boys (I have three) have never had problems with their penises. My doctor recommended we don't bother and I'm so glad he did.

Lacey is correct about that. My daugther-in-law and son decided it was barbaric to do that to my grandson. They did a lot of research and came to their decision against my antiqueted opioion. Here's my point of the few people I know that would be two who did not get it done as babies, they had to have it done latter in life due to seriious infections. Now, my son who is quite bright wasn't swayed by this, so I'll have my daughter-in-law write a comment. Her name is Rachel D. I hope it helps.

Personal experience - my sons had it done, and so did my grandson. My husband, and all his male relatives, too.

Not one of them every had any problems.

My father did not have it done, until he was in his 50's!! The only reason he did it then was because of the constant infections he had. It was extremely painful, but the infections went away and have not recurred.

My step-father also did not have it done, and he had to have his prostate removed (due to repeated infections) about 10 years ago.

I'm going with do it. The pain is short-lived, and the baby will not remember any of it.

Hey, I just realized you're in Franklin! I was born there. Johnson County Memorial Hospital. About all of Trafalgar is populated with my family. LOL! BIG family on Dad's side.

You have to do what you think is best for your child. Talk to your doctor. Those who have had to have it done later, have had a rough time with it, but many do not. It is a personal choice.

My parents had me done as a baby, thank goodness--I know I wouldn't have been able to handle that pain when I got older,
Had my son done at birth too, never any problems!!!

Just a note, if you do decide to go ahead with it,make sure they use a pain reliever. Some doctors don't. I can't stand to think of any little baby in that much pain. :(
I honestly don't care what others do with their sons, but it is a misrepresentation to say they will get infections just because they haven't been circ'd. Medical stats actually say the opposite. Those infections are just as prevelant in circ'd men as uncirc'd ones.

My three sons ages 20, 18 and 15 are uncircumsized. One of them had an infection ONCE.

Whatever decision you make, don't listen to people on either side with an agenda who want to make you feel guilty. You'll have enough anxiety right after your child is born. Same thing goes with the decision to breast/bottle feed.

These folks have been giving you superstition instead of information. There are differing medical opinions but I don't think any of them are based on blue balls. Take some time to find relatively objective sources.

I have 3 adult sons. We had the first 2 circumsized but not the 3rd. The one who wasn't has had no problems as a result.

Thanks everyone. Anymore advice? ;)

Its all what you want and religion

I am a nurse & I can assure you that you CANNOT get your kids taken away for not having it done. They will also NOT get blue balls/penises!
Now, having made that clear, I have 5 boys & I chose to have them circumsized because
it is much easier to clean them and prevent infections (which are very painful there!LOL)
One last thing: talk to your pediatrician about placing a numbing cream to the area prior to the procedure if you choose to have it done. Hope I don't sound too know-it-all!

hehe! Nah.. your ok, Brenda. :) You didn't have an attitude.. you were nice about it, unlike my mom...ahhhhh! I feel like screaming.

anymore advice people?

I WOULD DO IT. IF NOTHING ELSE FOR THE RISK OF GETTING INFECTIONS AND SPENDING ALOT OF TIME AND MONEY IN THE DOCTORS OFFICE OR HOSPITAL.

Im sure I will ruffel some feathers but whateve. Teach your kid to clean it and to stay healthy and your chances of infection go WAY down. My boyfriend isn't circed and to be honest he doesn't clean it much more than I would hope any other guy would (pull it back rince it off, fills it up with water some times but im pretty sure its because hes bored in the shower and thinks it looks funny) and hes a boy so its not like he showers every day. He has never had an infection or any discharge at all. His whole fam is that way and none of them have.
I think its a lot nicer, I was creeped out when I first met him because it seemed gross but now im a big fan. It keeps his sensitve bits quite sensitive. and I really think it makes intimate actions a lot better (totally something you want for your child right haha)
It doesnt increase their risk of blue balls (wtf!?) no one will take you away (wtf again!) and its much much much much much more common than you think. Most other countries do not do it as often as we do. Globally 25% of men are circumcised.

Seriously like anything else the trick is to teach your kid to clean himself well. Its like saying "I was thinking about taking all my kids teeth out and putting in dentures since kids often get cavities from not brushing and flossing" Sure it will work but why not just teach them to take care of them self?

I know this post is WAY after you have had your baby, so you have already made your decision, but I wanted to post my comment in case anyone reads this at a later date.

We had our first son circ'd in the hospital. We had tons of problems with the healing process and at 2 year of age (and several times before) he had a penial adhesion and the pediatrician had to very painfully pull the foreskin back where it was trying to reattch for the 10th or so time. It was the last time we had to have that done, but very painful to my two-year-old --- and no pain medication (xcept a little tylenol) was even offered.

When our second son was expected we researched circ methods and finally decided to have a Mohel (Jewish rabbi that does circ's) do it. There is one in our area that does circs for non-Jewish families and HE WAS FABULOUS. We were there for the whole thing. He used topical medicine and some herbs and such to numb it. It was far less barbaric than the hospital procedure and he walked us through every step. And, I got to nurse right after the procedure. He put this gauze/wrapping on it and said, when this part fall off, he will be almost completely healed --- and 3 days late the wrapping fell off, and it was totally fine after that --- A huge difference to our first experience with circ'ing in the hospital. It took our first son like 2 weeks at least to heal.

Anyway, all that to say, we are huge fans of how Rabbis practice circumcision and that they are "old school" and more natural. We love our Mohel and if we had more boys would go this route again!