Another midwife question - circumcision

Emerald27

Ok, ladies. When DS was born, our OB performed his circumcision. Now that I've changed to a midwife, I was wondering how to arrange to have this done. DS has been to the doctor a few times this week for tummy issues, so while we were there I mentioned to the doctor wanting this LO to be circumcised and asked if she was the one who would do it (and if she would come to the hospital or if I would bring him to the office, or what?).

The pedi said that their practice doesn't do circumcisions. They're done in the hospital by the OB, or if there's a complication later with an uncirced boy, they send him to a specialist. I told her that I'm working with a midwife and didn't think that they circ, and she suggested that I contact the hospital to ask what to do in my situation.

Well, this morning as I was looking through some info on the new practice, I discovered that the midwives circ! I didn't realize this was a service a midwife could provide. I am wondering if I should look for someone else to do it, or let the midwife do it in the hospital on the 2nd day (their general protocol).

So here's my question (tl;dr version):

Is it weird of me to worry about my midwife circumcising my son? My instinct says that this is surgery so only a surgeon (aka MD) should perform it. But mohels aren't all doctors...so maybe I'm overthinking this?

Would you have someone who is not an MD circumcise your child?

Thanks!

Emerald27

FamousEa said:

No. I wouldn't. At least in your situation maybe find out how many she has done but at my OB we can have it done at the hospital or if we don't decide right away they refer us to a urologist.

I suppose I could look for a pediatric urologist? I don't know...guess this is going to take some research.

Emerald27

theresat858 said:

If I were to have my child circumcised (a decision I've never had to make thanks to having girls), I would have it done by a specialist. Not an OB, not a midwife.

Ok. So is the sort of specialist you see for a circumcision a urologist? Also, why not an OB? Mine made it sound like this was something they did every day...and lots of them...and that it was part of their OB training in med school.

pnwlover12

My midwife sends us to a urologist for this.

Kendrav4

My pedi does ours. If my pedi didn't do it I would ask to be sent to a urologist. I trust my midwife and love her to death, but I dont know that I would want her performing my sons circ

colacrock

I would trust a midwife to do it but neither of my boys had their circumcisions performed by a "surgeon". Our family Dr. did it in his office a few days after birth. I realize that he is an MD and a midwife is not, but as long as the midwife has done circumcisions before with success, I would trust them. 

mandapear

Mohels train with urologists and shadow/apprentice other Mohels, so quite specialized. That said, the standard ob circ uses a pretty idiot-proof clamp that deadens the tissue first and then cuts, as opposed to the more surgical clamps (Magen and gomco) used by Mohels, so maybe it isn't as specialized a practice.

pushgal84

Good question! I'll be watching this since we're most likely making the switch to a midwife and are still undecided on circumcision.

nightowl1989

DH was dead set against the OB doing it, actually. The mohel is actually way more humane and less likely to go wrong, I guess since they've been doing it for years. Idk about a midwife though. Thankfully it doesn't matter this time around, I guess.

ss265

This can vary based on region. In the DFW area, it's more common for OBs to do circumcisions but in Houston, it's more common for pedis to do it. My SIL is a pediatrician and gave me this information.

I was fortunate enough to have both a pedi and an OB who could do it but opted to have my OB do it since she could do it right when DS was born. Plus SIL had a patient who was circumcised by my specific OB and was able to vouch for her doing the circ well. My pedi didn't have rights at the hospital I delivered at so he would have been a little older when it was done since he only saw her when he was 4-5 days old.

If you are having your midwife do it, I would ask how often she has done it etc.

Emerald27

Nicb13 said:

To be quite honest, I have no idea who circumcised DS while we were at the hospital but I know it wasn't an OB. We opted not to be there for it, it took only a few minutes and then he was back in the room with us like nothing ever happened.

Same here. Except my OB's name was on the bill, so I know she did it. I just definitely don't want to wait very long, because when they're brand new the nerves and blood vessels are less well-formed. After about the 7th or 8th day, circumcision becomes more tricky and can be more painful. I'm sure a urologist practice would not make us wait, but having it done in the hospital would be my preference. Just need to figure out who...

pnwlover12

nightowl1989 said:

DH was dead set against the OB doing it, actually. The mohel is actually way more humane and less likely to go wrong, I guess since they've been doing it for years. Idk about a midwife though. Thankfully it doesn't matter this time around, I guess.

I will now need to google "mohel". How the hell have I never heard of this before?

ETA -

I  googled it. Now it makes sense why I haven't heard of it before.

Sockgnome78

I just Google Mohel and now understand what it is and why I did not know what it was.
I am going to check with my OB to see if she does it or who will.

[Deleted User]

Emerald27 said:

To be quite honest, I have no idea who circumcised DS while we were at the hospital but I know it wasn't an OB. We opted not to be there for it, it took only a few minutes and then he was back in the room with us like nothing ever happened.

Same here. Except my OB's name was on the bill, so I know she did it. I just definitely don't want to wait very long, because when they're brand new the nerves and blood vessels are less well-formed. After about the 7th or 8th day, circumcision becomes more tricky and can be more painful. I'm sure a urologist practice would not make us wait, but having it done in the hospital would be my preference. Just need to figure out who...

Seriously? I feel like I learn something new every day on TB!

heathera1979

Speaking as someone who has assisted with several hundred or more circumcisions over the last several years, I would be more than comfortable having my midwife do a circumcision on my little boy (if I were having a boy and was using a midwife) assuming it is something that she does routinely.  I work at 2 different hospitals and at 1 it is typically the pedi who does the circ (if the chose pedi doesn't practice at that hospital, then the on call pedi does it) and at the other, the OB typically does the circ.

ashleym373

It is not the midwife nor the OB who delivers your baby that does the circ. the circ is usually done on the baby's 2nd day of life and completed by the doctor who is in charge of circumcisions that day in the nursey. Your midwife will ask if this is something you want, she will put in the paperwork, then the day it happens the doctor will come in and speak to you about the procedure, you sign documents and it is completed.

Hugh77

Everyone is talking as though all (boy) babies must be circumcised automatically. Since it's causing you worry, do consider the alternative of not doing anything at all, just leaving his genitals as they are - and as are those of most men in the world, and the great majority of men in the developed world (outside the USA). He doesn't need to match his brother or father, and he'll match many of his peers - in the Southwest, maybe a majority of them. The AAP doesn't recommend it, and most European paediatic associations condemn it.

golfingdarwinfish

Hugh77 said:

Everyone is talking as though all (boy) babies must be circumcised automatically. Since it's causing you worry, do consider the alternative of not doing anything at all, just leaving his genitals as they are - and as are those of most men in the world, and the great majority of men in the developed world (outside the USA). He doesn't need to match his brother or father, and he'll match many of his peers - in the Southwest, maybe a majority of them. The AAP doesn't recommend it, and most European paediatic associations condemn it.

No one is talking about males being circumcised "automatically".  OP posted a question, and people are providing answers.  She didn't pose the question about whether or not to circumcise, so why would people suggest the alternative of doing nothing at all?  

@hugh77

It looks like you only post regarding circumcision.  Care to introduce yourself?

Emerald27

Hugh77 said:

Everyone is talking as though all (boy) babies must be circumcised automatically. Since it's causing you worry, do consider the alternative of not doing anything at all, just leaving his genitals as they are - and as are those of most men in the world, and the great majority of men in the developed world (outside the USA). He doesn't need to match his brother or father, and he'll match many of his peers - in the Southwest, maybe a majority of them. The AAP doesn't recommend it, and most European paediatic associations condemn it.

Thanks, but our decision has been well-researched and our preference is to circumcise. Just looking for answers to the question of by whom!

Looks like I worried and jumped the gun on this question too soon. At my hospital, if you indicate that you wish for your son to be circumcised in the hospital (and don't list a specific provider for the procedure on the paperwork), the physician in charge of circumcisions for that day will do it. So it seems that if I WANTED the midwife to do it, I would have to indicate that. Interesting!

Justabean3

Both times they used plastibell with ours, no problems, no whining or crying and they did it in the hospital by the OB. I would call the hospital and ask who does it there