Circumcision

pwrhttr93 · June 2011

We are Team Green but we have discussed if the baby is a boy we will do it. I would rather get it done now than him have issues with it not being done and have to do it later.

KellyAnn911 · June 2011

lisajay09:
I will never understand why people care SO much about what other's do with their son's penises. I've seen many of these posts on TB and it always goes this way....the ones against it get all up in arms about it and basically act like those of us who do c/s our son's are trying to cut off their son's foreskins ourselves. It's just plain stupid. I don't understand why this is even a heated subject. Clearly, those who are c/s their son's don't think of it as a horrible, dangerous, mutilating, life-ruining event, so stop trying to portray it as such. There are so many other things to get all crazy about, like cloth diapering, for example. (lol...seriously, people)

Yes

novilise · June 2011

I can understand why people get upset about it. Because it can be looked at as a potential human rights issue. It can be looked at as suffering that most of us are just accustomed to. I know parents have good intentions with it, I know we did, too, but I can definitely see that it can be bigger issue.

Lisajay, I know it probably isn't a big deal to you because your son was some kind of exception and didn't seem to feel anything. He slept before, during and after. I have never heard of that before...even at the Jewish bris, I have heard some people say that one of the steps was done before the circumcision and also they use a different clamp that may cause less pain. But, otherwise, it is very difficult for some people to reconcile that we put so many baby boys through the pain of circumcision.

I know I still have trouble wrapping my head around it, too. I can never make up my mind whether it is truly wrong or not. But we have chosen not to do it this time. It can't tell if part of me is so used to it that I'm still not sure if it is totally wrong or not.

AggieGrl · June 2011

lisajay09:
I will never understand why people care SO much about what other's do with their son's penises. I've seen many of these posts on TB and it always goes this way....the ones against it get all up in arms about it and basically act like those of us who do c/s our son's are trying to cut off their son's foreskins ourselves. It's just plain stupid. I don't understand why this is even a heated subject. Clearly, those who are c/s their son's don't think of it as a horrible, dangerous, mutilating, life-ruining event, so stop trying to portray it as such. There are so many other things to get all crazy about, like cloth diapering, for example. (lol...seriously, people)

Are we reading the same thread? Or are you talking about past threads about the same topic? The posters in this thread seem to be giving their own personal opinions about the subject in a fairly respectful manner.

iluvmylab · June 2011

AggieGrl:

lisajay09:
I will never understand why people care SO much about what other's do with their son's penises. I've seen many of these posts on TB and it always goes this way....the ones against it get all up in arms about it and basically act like those of us who do c/s our son's are trying to cut off their son's foreskins ourselves. It's just plain stupid. I don't understand why this is even a heated subject. Clearly, those who are c/s their son's don't think of it as a horrible, dangerous, mutilating, life-ruining event, so stop trying to portray it as such. There are so many other things to get all crazy about, like cloth diapering, for example. (lol...seriously, people)

Are we reading the same thread? Or are you talking about past threads about the same topic? The posters in this thread seem to be giving their own personal opinions about the subject in a fairly respectful manner.

Threads on this topic typically end up with people on a soapbox on one side or the other, or both. This has come up on my BMB and it never ends well. This thread is tame so far.

StefB28 · June 2011

caffinated_tulip:
We won't be. There's no good reason for us to have it done, so why put our baby through that?

Wrong. There are plenty of good reasons to have it done. I'm not saying that you shouldn't have the choice regarding whether or not to circumcise your son (you absolutely should have that choice!), but to say that there's no reason to do it is incorrect.

Read here: https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/circumcision.htm

AggieGrl · June 2011

iluvmylab:
AggieGrl:

lisajay09:
I will never understand why people care SO much about what other's do with their son's penises. I've seen many of these posts on TB and it always goes this way....the ones against it get all up in arms about it and basically act like those of us who do c/s our son's are trying to cut off their son's foreskins ourselves. It's just plain stupid. I don't understand why this is even a heated subject. Clearly, those who are c/s their son's don't think of it as a horrible, dangerous, mutilating, life-ruining event, so stop trying to portray it as such. There are so many other things to get all crazy about, like cloth diapering, for example. (lol...seriously, people)
Are we reading the same thread? Or are you talking about past threads about the same topic? The posters in this thread seem to be giving their own personal opinions about the subject in a fairly respectful manner.
Threads on this topic typically end up with people on a soapbox on one side or the other, or both. This has come up on my BMB and it never ends well. This thread is tame so far.

Yes, I know. This ain't my first rodeo. That was my point, this thread is tame and I really don't see anyone portraying c/s as a "horrible, dangerous, mutilating, life-ruining event." I'm simply saying don't add drama where there isn't much to begin with.

AggieGrl · June 2011

lisajay09:
AggieGrl:

lisajay09:
I will never understand why people care SO much about what other's do with their son's penises. I've seen many of these posts on TB and it always goes this way....the ones against it get all up in arms about it and basically act like those of us who do c/s our son's are trying to cut off their son's foreskins ourselves. It's just plain stupid. I don't understand why this is even a heated subject. Clearly, those who are c/s their son's don't think of it as a horrible, dangerous, mutilating, life-ruining event, so stop trying to portray it as such. There are so many other things to get all crazy about, like cloth diapering, for example. (lol...seriously, people)
Are we reading the same thread? Or are you talking about past threads about the same topic? The posters in this thread seem to be giving their own personal opinions about the subject in a fairly respectful manner.
I'm not so sure everyone is being repsectful and not standing on soap boxes or anything, or trying to make people think twice about their decisions.

I see people passionate about their opinions and posting their personal experiences, which should be encouraged. Call it a soap box if you want, but it's a good discussion to have. Of course people are trying to make others think twice about their decision. It's a debate. Nobody is getting flamed and attacked. That's a pretty respectful opinion thread for the bump, IMHO.

domesticatedhuman · June 2011

This thread is coming up on boards all over! I view it as unecessary, we will not circ but my husband is European and it's not as common over there. And no, European men don't all have infections because of it. LOL!

I kind of view it like a genital mutilation thing, I bet cultures who have never heard of this would think, "They do WHAT to their baby boys?!?!?!?!". Other cultures do things like all over face tatoos, breast pounding, female genital mutilation. If I lived there I wouldn't do any of things things either though. IDK, it's all the same to me, just because it's more common here doesn't change what it actually is, at the root of it, in my mind.

However - it's none of my business to say what people culturally should or shouldn't do. I don't judge the other cultures for their behaviors that I don't understand either. It's a big wide world out there.

StefB28 · June 2011

lisajay09:
novilise:

Lisajay, I know it probably isn't a big deal to you because your son was some kind of exception and didn't seem to feel anything. He slept before, during and after. I have never heard of that before...even at the Jewish bris, I have heard some people say that one of the steps was done before the circumcision and also they use a different clamp that may cause less pain. But, otherwise, it is very difficult for some people to reconcile that we put so many baby boys through the pain of circumcision.

I wasn't the only one who had a baby boy in the hospital and the other mom's I talked to during my 5 night stay had similar experiences, so...an exception, well, I certainly think he's exceptional, but in this case, I guess it's just an OB who is really good at doing it.

I wasn't in the room when the procedure was done, but I do know that my son was sound asleep when they took him and was sound asleep when they brought him back to me 10 minutes later.

I keep hearing people referring to the pain & torture of this procedure. Are people misinformed-- Do they believe that this is a procedure performed without anesthesia? My son had a topical anesthetic followed by a penile dorsal nerve block, a shot at the base of his penis to numb him before the foreskin was removed. Did he cry? Probably, just as he cries every time he gets a shot. But that doesn't mean I'm not going to have him vaccinated. (But that's an argument for another thread.)

novilise · June 2011

I believe the AAP recommends using anestheisa from a needle to numb it, but not all doctors do this at all. Some do. At our hospital, most don't. They only use an EMLA cream. So it was not too pleasant for my son. MY SIL's doctor used the needle and she said her son did better with the circumcision, but the needle was pretty bad.

SarahPLiz · June 2011

StefB28:
caffinated_tulip:
We won't be. There's no good reason for us to have it done, so why put our baby through that?

Wrong. There are plenty of good reasons to have it done. I'm not saying that you shouldn't have the choice regarding whether or not to circumcise your son (you absolutely should have that choice!), but to say that there's no reason to do it is incorrect.

Read here: https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/circumcision.htm

I think I'd prefer to teach my son about abstinence, condoms and testing before becoming sexually active with someone before I cut off a piece of his body. This is NOT a good enough reason for me. There are other, less invasive ways, to lessen the risk of transmission of HIV.

OurJellybean · June 2011

VERY controversial issue. We personally decided to NOT do circumcision. For many reasons but ill leave it at that

StefB28 · June 2011

SarahPLiz:
StefB28:

caffinated_tulip:
We won't be. There's no good reason for us to have it done, so why put our baby through that?

Wrong. There are plenty of good reasons to have it done. I'm not saying that you shouldn't have the choice regarding whether or not to circumcise your son (you absolutely should have that choice!), but to say that there's no reason to do it is incorrect.

Read here: https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/circumcision.htm

I think I'd prefer to teach my son about abstinence, condoms and testing before becoming sexually active with someone before I cut off a piece of his body. This is NOT a good enough reason for me. There are other, less invasive ways, to lessen the risk of transmission of HIV.

I respect the fact that this is not a good enough reason for you. (I only have a problem with denying that a reason does, in fact, exist.)

I agree that sex education is extremely important, but the likelihood that our children will protect themselves every single time they choose to be sexually active throughout their lives is not great. I will protect my son from HIV and other STDs in whatever way I can. I will give my children the Gardasil vaccine (which is now offered for boys in addition to girls) & if there was ever a procedure similar to circumcision available for girls that provided the same benefits of lowered risk, my daugher would have it.

In my perfect world, there will be a cure for all STDs by the time my children are old enough to choose to have sex. Until then, I'll do everything I can to protect them.

MrandMrsAndrews · June 2011

love_melongtime:
I did the same as you- I let my H decide. He is for it, 100%. He is circumcised, enjoys sex very much, and prefers the look as opposed to uncircumsized. This always turns into a heated debate but I couldn't care less what other people do!

Yes Exactly

Ms.Jade · June 2011

WifeyMommy2011:
welcometowonderland:
love_melongtime:

welcometowonderland:
My son is not and at almost 11, he is having some issues with it. My husband and I have decided that this boy will have it done.
Thank you for sharing. Just out of curiosity, by 'having issues' what do you mean? Like he just wishes he was circumsized? Or has trouble keeping it clean, or what?
If my son knew I was dicussing his penis, he would have me committed! lol
The skin around his penis is very tight and constricting. He washes, but it hurts to pull back so I think he misses some stuff. I know it sounds awkward, but his dad has offered to help, but he gets very embarassed so won`t allow it. I hate to say it, but he may have to have the procedure done in the near future.

Same thing happened to my little brother!

Same thing happened to my HS boyfriend. I would hate to go through the procedure in HS. Apparently my BIL (sister's DH) is not so if we decide not to we do have a close family member who can coach us I guess. This is important to some people - having a family member who understands.

orchid10 · June 2011

Since there were 60 posts I didn't read them all but just wanted to say one of our friends had to be circumcised as a teenager because of an infection and now he is going to have a son and is absolutely adamant that the baby will be circumcised. We had our son circumcised, my DH watched the procedure and said our son hardly cried and it was over very quickly. Now we have peace of mind that we don't have to worry about something happening later on and medically needing it. I think as far as hygiene goes, it's better but there's no right or wrong answer. It's a personal preference, it's NOT child abuse, it should be a decision agreed upon with all things considered.

xloeboo · June 2011

Sorry for the late reply, been busy moving and unpacking! The procedure was more involved than it would have been at birth but not that bad according to DH. He is glad it was done and it relieved his pain. His only complaint now is a scar that is more significant than if it had been done at birth (no big deal for either of us). As to the comments of other posters, prior to circumcision, DH never had any issues with cleaning. It was only as he aged and the skin grew tight that he had pain. He is not from the US so please don't blame the American medical community either. It is just a possible complication when circumcision is not performed. I'm not trying to judge anyone else as to their own personal decisions. It's simply a medical fact.

xloeboo · June 2011

Oops...heheh...meant to quote:

Sorry for the late reply, been busy moving and unpacking! The procedure was more involved than it would have been at birth but not that bad according to DH. He is glad it was done and it relieved his pain. His only complaint now is a scar that is more significant than if it had been done at birth (no big deal for either of us). As to the comments of other posters, prior to circumcision, DH never had any issues with cleaning. It was only as he aged and the skin grew tight that he had pain. He is not from the US so please don't blame the American medical community either. It is just a possible complication when circumcision is not performed. I'm not trying to judge anyone else as to their own personal decisions. It's simply a medical fact.

welcometowonderland:
xloeboo:
welcometowonderland:
love_melongtime:

welcometowonderland:
My son is not and at almost 11, he is having some issues with it. My husband and I have decided that this boy will have it done.

Thank you for sharing. Just out of curiosity, by 'having issues' what do you mean? Like he just wishes he was circumsized? Or has trouble keeping it clean, or what?

If my son knew I was dicussing his penis, he would have me committed! lol

The skin around his penis is very tight and constricting. He washes, but it hurts to pull back so I think he misses some stuff. I know it sounds awkward, but his dad has offered to help, but he gets very embarassed so won`t allow it. I hate to say it, but he may have to have the procedure done in the near future.

Exactly! This is what happened to DH. Just know, he is very happy that finally at 12 he had the procedure done, but wishes it had happened at birth and saved him the agony. My best to your son.

Not to get personal, but how bad was the procedure at that age? My son is almost 11 and we will likely have it done around 12 or so.

WifeyMommy... Did your brother end up having the circumcision done at a later age? My son is terrified and I feel so bad that I didn't have it done when he was born. The doctor said it was purely cosmetic and unnecessary, but for my son, it's a source of discomfort.

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