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Forcibly retracted foreskin

CoconutheadCoconuthead member
in Attachment Parenting
I had to take my son to the hospital today for some tests. One of his kidneys is partially dilated and the urologist needed to determine the extent. For these procedures the nurses needed to intsert a catheter. Imagine my surprise when they forcibly retracted his foreskin all the way to insert it. It was very painful for him. ..he screamed so loud. His poor penis was raw and bleeding. I was in shock. Here are three nurses..one holding him down, one holding his little baby boy parts exposed and pouring iodine all over. Another cramming a pacifier with sugar water into his mouth to " calm him down" because he was screaming his little baby heart out. I yelled "He's bleeding". And one nurse says "This is what happens when you don't retract the foreskin it thoughens up and gets stuck". I said "I read in several books that you should never retract an uncircumcised boys foreskin. .it is attached and later will naturally separate. " The nurses response? "Its separeted". Yeah now it is ***** because you just separated it!

I just didn't know what to do. I was in shock and I was crying because he was in so much pain and I couldn't stand to see it. I tried to bring it up with the nurse again but she just said "you should be retracting it and cleaning it every time and you can talk to your health care professional about it".

I am just furious. Now I am reading that there was no need for them to retract his foreskin like that. It was so rough and it made him bleed and hurt him unnecessarily. I want to complain but I don't know where. To the hospital? I don't know the names of the nurses as none of them introduced themselves. Maybe I should complain about the department in general. I don't want more moms with uncirced boys to be told they should be retracting the foreskin and any more baby boys to go through unnecessary trauma.

I have a well check with my pedi on Wednesday so I am going to talk to her about it I am just so angry!!!!

Has anyone else had a similar experience and what did you do about it?
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Re: Forcibly retracted foreskin

  • blush64blush64 member
    I haven't had an experience like that but you are right,you should not be pulling back the skin at all. My doctor told me doing that can be painful and can cause infection. I would check the hospital website or even call. There is always someone to handle patient issues and complaints. I would not let it go, they are nurses and they are giving out the wrong information. I am sure they could find out who was working easily enough. I am sorry you went through that.
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  • nosoup4unosoup4u member
    That sucks, I'm sorry your little guy went through that. The hospital should have an ombudsman or patient relations person on staff. Maybe try to get a hold of the nurse manager in charge of the ones who did it also.
    DS1 - Feb 2008

    DS2 - Oct 2010 (my VBAC baby!)

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  • eroplaneeroplane member
    Write down the unit/area, time and date. They should be able to track down the specific nurses. Always a paper trail.

    Sorry your little one had to go through that.
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  • skibunny59skibunny59 member
    I am just so angry for you and feel sorry that your LO had to go through that.  I would definitely follow up and complain to the hospital staff.  I can't believe that nurses would be so ignorant.  I'm so sorry that this happened.
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  • CoconutheadCoconuthead member
    I called the hospital and also sent an e-mail. Their complaints department is an answering machine so I don't have high hopes but we'll see if they get back to me. I will also talk to his pedi tomorrow and see what care is required.

    I know these procedures are all stressful and painful. He was screaming and upset all day. But what really upsets me is that it was completly unnecessary and they just brushed me off and then made me feel like his pain was my fault and I was ignorant for not retracting his penis since birth. And I feel like his reaction for this was worse than for other procedures they did...like placing the IV for example. I mean his penis is the most sensitive part of his body and I was shocked to see them do that amd it seemed very rough to me.

    Today he seems more grouchy than usual and I am sure he has some residual discomfort. I am giving him a rinse with warm water with every diaper change to hopefully give a little relief.

    Thanks for your kind words mammas. I feel like I failed to protect him and now that moment is gone and I can't get it back.
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