two types of circumcision? ack help

aliciablair22

Hi ladies,

My c section is on Monday, the admissions nurse called me to go over a bunch of information. She asked if we were getting our son circumcised which I said yes. She said that my OB and the pediatrician I chose do it two different ways- My OB uses a "plastibell" and the pedi does a traditional cut.

Any mommas have any insight to which is a better option? I am doing research now but would also like to hear from others, thank you

thomas&lynn

Sorry I do not know an answer to your question.

I'm fairly sure we are not circumcising but this is very interesting nontheless; I'll be watching for responses!

blckwhtyllwgirl

I asked this very same question at our childbirth class because they had picks up of both methods. My hospital and doctor no longer do the plastibell - they said it is outdated. Basically it's akin putting a rubber band on a puppies tail to dock it (or shorten it). They put a plastic device on the babies penis and the skin falls off around a week later. I would definitely say go with the other method!

UrbanLe1

DH (a urologist) says to go with the plastibell.  Fewer risks of complications, harder to screw up.

JinglesChic

I don't know the difference either, but it's interesting, and good, that they gave you an option. I know the OB or pedi usually favors one or the other so the option is made for you. GL on your research.

blckwhtyllwgirl

A side note, I may be getting the plastibell method confused with the gomco. I don't remember which it was that they don't do anymore.

lindsaynjason

I used to work in Newborn Nursery, so I've helped with my fair share of circs.  Personally, if I were having a boy, I would want the plasti-bell.  It's a little plastic ring that slips up under the foreskin and then they tie a tight thread around it.  Once circulation is cut off, they remove the foreskin.  The plastic piece stays in place until it heals 7-10 days later and you'll just find it in the diaper.  No special care required (not even vaseline) and from experience, much less bleeding.

The "traditional" circ uses sterile metal instruments similar to the bell, but the foreskin is cut off and nothing is left in place.  You do have to keep vaseline on it until it completely heals and a little bit of gauze for the first day or 2.  Those seem to be more apt to bleeding.

These are just my own personal experiences as a nurse and helping with circs and caring for the babies afterwards.  Hope it was helpful.

erinkate23

A plastibell circumcision uses pressure to remove the foreskin; essentially the platibell crushes the connective tissue between the glans and foreskin.  The plastibell itself is left in place (it's a plastic ring) after the circumcision and it falls off after a few days when the wound heals.  You can see a video of one being performed on youtube, but be aware that it is very graphic.

The traditional cut is done in the same way a Mohel would do it for a jewish bris, with a scalpel.  The foreskin's adehsion to the glans is pulled back (the connective tissue is similar to a toenail on a toe when they're babies; infants don't have retractable foreskins) and the doctor uses a scalpel to cut. 

No matter what you choose (if you choose to do it at all), I highly recommend demanding adequate pain relief for your baby.  Neither option is pain-free, during the procedure or recovery.

terrahill09

Our childbirth class instructor said that usually your pediatrician has a preferance and thats what they'll do but that the plastibell is safer because there is less risk that they will get too much/too little skin and screw it up. Thats the way I wanted to go if I would have had a boy.

ckstokes

lindsaynjason:

I used to work in Newborn Nursery, so I've helped with my fair share of circs.  Personally, if I were having a boy, I would want the plasti-bell.  It's a little plastic ring that slips up under the foreskin and then they tie a tight thread around it.  Once circulation is cut off, they remove the foreskin.  The plastic piece stays in place until it heals 7-10 days later and you'll just find it in the diaper.  No special care required (not even vaseline) and from experience, much less bleeding.

The "traditional" circ uses sterile metal instruments similar to the bell, but the foreskin is cut off and nothing is left in place.  You do have to keep vaseline on it until it completely heals and a little bit of gauze for the first day or 2.  Those seem to be more apt to bleeding.

These are just my own personal experiences as a nurse and helping with circs and caring for the babies afterwards.  Hope it was helpful.

This. I also worked in NBN and helped with a lot of circs. The plastibells and gomcos are the way to go.  

jknallen

We did the plastibell one with DS and didn't have any problems at all with it.  It was a little plastic ring that had a string tied around it.  It just fell off by itself after a week or two (i forget how long it was there now).  We just put lots of polysporin on it when we changed his diaper just to make sure that it was not going to stick to his diaper or get infected or anything.  It didn't seem to bug him at all.  He only cried for a second when getting it done.  The dr said that he cried more when they were undressing him compared to when he got it done.

We are going to be doing the same thing this time with LO.

rmnorrell

hi. my bff had a little boy in jan. her pediatrician did the plastibell and her little boy's penis got severly infected. it was such a hassle because it hurt him so bad every time he peed. also, she had to keep going to dr to get it checked out. could have been situational or coincidence but id go with traditional.

Mrs.McLovin

My DS had the plastibell and did great!

hunniebunches

Plastibell ALL THE WAY!!!

we had this done for our son and it fell off before a week was over.  never bled never looked gross (except when it started to 'hang off'...we were instructed NOT to pull it off.)  so much more humane (imo) and also less room for error!!! 

we will push for this all the way if this one is another boy!  (have to ask doc yet to find out the methods)