If you're having a boy..

southergirl06 · August 2011

Will you have him circumcised? We have a girl and this is our first boy. I'm a little anxious about it since it's a whole new world for us. Curious on your thoughts..

alirdavis7 · August 2011

Absolutely, DS was and this little guy will be too!

mamacrunch · August 2011

Oh yes! People have been on me saying it isn't medically necessary but all the research I've done says otherwise and I feel it is also socially more acceptable.

southergirl06 · August 2011

alirdavis7:
Absolutely, DS was and this little guy will be too!

You never had a problem with it right? We are like 99% sure that we're going to have it done...friends keep sending me articles on how dangerous they are and yadda yadda. I never thought twice about it before but it made me wonder..

LoveToTeach25 · August 2011

Yep

emmasue18 · August 2011

Brave girl to post this question, I have seen women get flamed up and down over this. We will have DS #2, just like with DH and DS #1. DH's father is not and has had horrible infections even with proper cleaning. I don't care what anyone says, my children will have it done.

Plus, DS's was easy, he didn't shed a tear or flinch--I WAS IN THE ROOM. So I DO know. And it was healed in five days. No torture of children here, people. He is just fine! I am sorry but I can't stand when people flip out and claim it's child abuse. It's sick and I am sure I'll see it on this post somewhere! lol

southergirl06 · August 2011

emmasue18:
Brave girl to post this question, I have seen women get flamed up and down over this. We will have DS #2, just like with DH and DS #1. DH's father is not and has had horrible infections even with proper cleaning. I don't care what anyone says, my children will have it done.

Plus, DS's was easy, he didn't shed a tear or flinch--I WAS IN THE ROOM. So I DO know. And it was healed in five days. No torture of children here, people. He is just fine! I am sorry but I can't stand when people flip out and claim it's child abuse. It's sick and I am sure I'll see it on this post somewhere! lol

Thank you for this! I was wondering if the Doc does it in front of you or not. That's going to be the worst part I think...no flames here!

birdie9927 · August 2011

OB thinks we might be having a boy (not yet confirmed by a/s!).

This seems to be a regional thing. Where we live (CA) the majority of baby boys aren't circumcised anymore (numbers vary but it appears to be <30%).It is much higher in the Midwest and Northeast.

I never really thought about it before getting pregnant. DH is circumcised, so I guess I assumed we would but he surprised me with how adamant he was against it. After doing some reading, I just don't see a really compelling reason to do it, so I don't think we will.

GirlyGirl319 · August 2011

Yes we will

emmasue18 · August 2011

southergirl06:
emmasue18:

Brave girl to post this question, I have seen women get flamed up and down over this. We will have DS #2, just like with DH and DS #1. DH's father is not and has had horrible infections even with proper cleaning. I don't care what anyone says, my children will have it done.

Plus, DS's was easy, he didn't shed a tear or flinch--I WAS IN THE ROOM. So I DO know. And it was healed in five days. No torture of children here, people. He is just fine! I am sorry but I can't stand when people flip out and claim it's child abuse. It's sick and I am sure I'll see it on this post somewhere! lol

Thank you for this! I was wondering if the Doc does it in front of you or not. That's going to be the worst part I think...no flames here!

Our OB gave us the option. He and DH went behind the curtain and I was on the other side. He pretty much stayed asleep the whole time! Ha ha. It looks way worse than it is.

bigbear · August 2011

Nobody should be flamed for this personal decision as neither of them is wrong. But I really don't think it is medically necessary or it wouldn't be an option. it was a "trend" for a while and believed to be better. I grew up in Europe and nobody was circumcised and not one person I know has had a problem. My dh and nobody in his family are either and none had an issue. My friends with new babies now also haven't done it. So should we have a boy we won't have him circumcised. But I can see both sides and respect and accept them both

Cinco · August 2011

I'm not having a boy, but my son is circumcised.

limeallure · August 2011

Yes, we will have our little guy circumcised.

Annya26 · August 2011

I think this is a personal decision that needs to be made by each of the individual sets of parents that have a baby, so please don't let pressure from one side or the other, or from friends sway you. That said, please also do your research - know the risks and benefits for yourself and then make your decision accordingly.

I have decided based on my research and the number of accidents I have seen/heard about and reviews from other parents who say if they could go back they would not. To me it makes more sense to leave it there, and if he decides he hates having a foreskin in 20 years then he can remove it himself.

Its a tough one, good luck with your decision!

DEBBIE33CASEY · August 2011

DH is very set on having him cut. I have a lot more research to do before we'll have a set decision.

RinRintheBride · August 2011

I don't know what we're having yet but if it is a boy he will be circumcised. DS was and we made that decision partly because DH is not and he has always kind of wished that he was. He has even done research on getting it done as an adult. I personally am not bothered by it and don't think its worth the pain but as a woman I can't fully understand what its like for him.

luckylindy · August 2011

Yup.

Pacheco825 · August 2011

Yep we did with DS too. He was fine, and we had no problems

outlierallie · August 2011

My DS isn't. It's his body. If he wants to remove the foreskin later in life I'll let him make that choice.

lp0 · August 2011

Yes, dh and I discussed it and we are going to definitely have our little guy snipped.

Haley.Beth · August 2011

outlierallie:
My DS isn't. It's his body. If he wants to remove the foreskin later in life I'll let him make that choice.

Exactly this.

However I'm proud of the posters for keeping this a calm discussion so far, as this is YOUR decision to make. Do your own research, talk to your significant other, etc.

While you're asking for opinions, though, if I find out on the 1st I'm having a boy, no, I will not have him circumcised. DH has a strong opinion on the matter, as he's not happy with the scars from his own circumcision. IMHO, I feel like living in modern society, cleanliness is not an issue, so it really comes down to looks and sexual sensations. And that's not a decision I feel I should make for my son. I'll pay to have the procedure done if he decides later in life that's what he wants.

cocadoll · August 2011

well, my first two boys are. I watched the second one getting done and it was really no big deal. However, I really don't want to do it this time. We more than likely WILL be getting it done anyway. My DH is not and he has been having so much trouble lately with it that he wants it done. He will probably get it done during my 6 weeks pp so he has time to heal. Because he is having so many issues right now, he is adament on getting this son circ also. So we will see.

shear22 · August 2011

I sure will

bugsmami · August 2011

DS is not, and we won't be circ'ing baby boy either (despite the flack from my mom). It's a personal matter that's very much worth researching!! For the record DH is not circ'd, and hasn't had any problems.

For me, it's just like any other body part... some people have lots of trouble and have to get it removed (e.g. gallbladder, appendix), and some people never, ever have trouble, so personally I don't think that that should be a reason. You can't predict either way (if it is removed or not) whether your LO will have problems down the road. I've read horror stories of both circ'd and uncirc'd guys

ETA: I've read somewhere from the viewpoint of having sons "look" like their dad, and it went something like this... when they are little they won't care/notice that their penis doesn't look the same. When they are old enough to know the difference they probably shouldn't be looking at each other's penis or won't care that they are "different". *I don't know how this pans out as DS is still little, so we're not to the point of hygiene teaching lessons short of baths, but I thought it was kind of an interesting viewpoint.

glitzandglitter · August 2011

alirdavis7:
Absolutely, DS was and this little guy will be too!

This

Jess084 · August 2011

We are team green but we have decided that if our baby is a boy, we will not circumcise him. My DH is circumcised but he agrees from our research that it is a cosmetic procedure that we don't need to jump into. I think it is a really a personal decision that parents need to make for their own sons.

christina627 · August 2011

We did not have DS circed.

miababy · August 2011

Nope. We won't be. We've done a lot of research and believe it is a unnecessary cosmetic procedure. If DS wants it done later in life, that is his choice. That being said, I can understand why some choose to do it and I believe that is their choice to make. No flames from me!

ctgirlingermany · August 2011

We won't circ DS. We live in Europe, and as one pp said, it is not a common procedure here. DH would have a fit if I insisted on this. It is really a personal decision, and whatever you and your DH chose is best for your family and your baby.

For me, we discussed this issue years before having a baby. I was really upset by the thought of not doing this at first, but I have since educated myself a bit about the whole discussion. DH's friend had an infection, and needed a circ. when he was 10. I know 3 friends whose babies have had infections due to problems with circumcision. I think that either way, there is a possiblity for infection. This may be TMI too, but my DH usually keeps his foreskin up, so there is little difference in looks for me anyway.

PhoxySteph · August 2011

bigbear:
Nobody should be flamed for this personal decision as neither of them is wrong.

I agree with this.

And remember for all the negative articles about it there are just as many positive articles about it.

My fav. web site to go to is the folowing. HTH and GL in your decision

https://www.americanpregnancy.org/labornbirth/circumcision.html

and yes we are having Alex circumcised.

MissusW · August 2011

I love the responses that say "it's your decision but I won't because of this bad thing and that bad thing"--right. You don't need us to make you feel better about your decision. Do what you feel is right for you and your son and don't worry about what other people are doing.

purpletulip · August 2011

We're having a girl this time, but DS isn't circumcised.
If you want an entertaining, informative, biased against circumcision video to watch, check out Penn & Teller's BS episode on it :-)

Anne326 · August 2011

Our little guy will be circumcised.

califorever81 · August 2011

We have one son who is, and one son who isn't. If this baby had been a boy (It's not), it would not have been circ'd. I agree with a pp that some people just have issues with certain parts of their body, but that isn't a reason to preemptively remove them.

MAMAxB · August 2011

I just asked DH... he said yes we will

I haven't read up on it but plan to. It's not a big deal to me whether people do or not

MeganH0602 · August 2011

birdie9927:

OB thinks we might be having a boy (not yet confirmed by a/s!).

This seems to be a regional thing. Where we live (CA) the majority of baby boys aren't circumcised anymore (numbers vary but it appears to be <30%).It is much higher in the Midwest and Northeast.

I never really thought about it before getting pregnant. DH is circumcised, so I guess I assumed we would but he surprised me with how adamant he was against it. After doing some reading, I just don't see a really compelling reason to do it, so I don't think we will.

I really think it depends on where in CA you are and what nationality the people are. Where I come from, males that are uncircumcised are fwe and far between. I grew up in SoCal. I remember growing up and having a lecture on how boys need to be circumcised yadda yadda because otherwise they could have a lifetime of infections and so on. My aunt didn't circumcise her boys because their father hadn't been. Well, one of them ended up with an infection when he was about 4 or 5 and had to get it done then. He will remember that... it had to have hurt. I think it is all together better to get it done when they are an infant.

Needless to say, if I end up having a boy he WILL be circumsised. DH is and so are both of his sons. It's just something I always knew I would do even long before I was married. I knew id I had a boy he would be circumcised.

HopingForOne · August 2011

We won't be if we have a boy.

We live in Canada...circ rates seem to be pretty low, and our government healthcare won't even fund it...and I have much better uses for that money.

But mostly, I just don't feel like I have the "right" to make that choice, but like others...if he grows up and wants it done, I won't have a problem with it.

lyonsworth · August 2011

HopingForOne:
We won't be if we have a boy.

We live in Canada...circ rates seem to be pretty low, and our government healthcare won't even fund it...and I have much better uses for that money.

But mostly, I just don't feel like I have the "right" to make that choice, but like others...if he grows up and wants it done, I won't have a problem with it.

This for us too. And I'd be upset if our healthcare system did fund it since there are NO MEDICAL BENEFITS.

MrsSteelerTeacherLady · August 2011

I don't know what I'm having yet, but DS is circumcised and if this one is a boy he will too. I have read all of the research and neither has me convinced it's the "right" way which says to me neither is wrong. Both sides have legitimate medical concerns that IMO pretty much cancel the other side out.

Where we are it's very common to be circ'd. My deciding factor is teasing. I expect that DS will want to play sports- when he's in high school I just don't want to have him have to deal with teasing over something like that. It didn't hurt him anymore than the black eyes, scratches, bumps and bruises he's had in the past year.

Personally, for me, I don't like the "it's his body" thought b/c I know what one adult went through when he had to be circumcised for his wife (religious reasons). Jackson didn't have a bit of that emotional/physical pain. He won't know any different.

I can see both sides and truly don't judge anyone for their decision, these were my deciding factors b/c like I said I didn't see one have more medical benefits than the other.

Fififa21 · August 2011

No circumcision for our son. DH is not circumcised. Most Hispanics are not circumcised, it?s just not something they do in their cultures, so we will not be doing it. We don?t want him to be different from his daddy.