Circumcision

sarac986 · August 2016

Anyone having a hard time making a decision? Any STM's have any advice? I keep reading that if you are uncircumcised you are at higher risk of UTI's and HPV

Knottie1458416769 · August 2016

There's not much difference in terms of risks for infections, minimal diff at most. the pros/cons used to be exaggerated when our husbands were babies. We are choosing not to bars in personal preference instead of historical precedence

PaigeSF · August 2016

From what I've read, it is suggested if you want to do it for religious reasons, otherwise the benefits do not outweigh the risk of being uncircumcised. I would be fine with not doing it. My husband however, was not circumcised as a baby and had to have it done in his early 20s because of an infection (I don't remember what exactly it was), so he's leaning more toward doing it. We will talk to our pediatrician about it before we make a final decision. We also don't know if we're having a boy so maybe we won't have to decide.

rspalding001 · August 2016

It never really crossed my mind to not do it. I have no reason not to and my understanding is that its better to do it for health reasons.

leighry · August 2016

Uncircumcised boys do have a higher risk of infection. I see it all the time at my job. Sometimes that's the deciding factor if a baby boy has a fever if we decide to cath for a urine or not. If they're young enough we cath no matter what but after a certain age uncircumcised get a cath when circumcised boys don't always. You also have to make sure if you don't that you retract the foreskin on a regular basis because it can adhere.. there has been more than one occasion where we go to cath and the foreskin won't retract because parents don't care for it properly. We are circumsizing our son based on preference and medical reasons.

fiscally3 · August 2016

We don't circumcise, I'm first generation American and it just seems like a weird practice to me. Kind of like getting a baby's ears pierced, its not my thing but I don't care if other people do it. Most of the world isn't, and if it was really a significant health issue I'm sure there would be increase in other countries. My experience working in childcare it's about 50/50, so your kid isn't going to be an odd one out either way if that's a concern.

Muscatmommyof4 · August 2016

This will be my second DS and he will be circumcised. My husband is so I made the personal choice to have my boys be as well. Recovery was only 7 days with my first expecting to be the same this time around its very easy to care for. On a side note my little cousin is not (he was a preemie and to small to have it done) and has had a few infections. If you choose not to get it done just make sure you clean it properly and teach them as they get older how to clean it as well.

Synnovus · August 2016

leighry said:

Uncircumcised boys do have a higher risk of infection. I see it all the time at my job. Sometimes that's the deciding factor if a baby boy has a fever if we decide to cath for a urine or not. If they're young enough we cath no matter what but after a certain age uncircumcised get a cath when circumcised boys don't always. You also have to make sure if you don't that you retract the foreskin on a regular basis because it can adhere.. there has been more than one occasion where we go to cath and the foreskin won't retract because parents don't care for it properly. We are circumsizing our son based on preference and medical reasons.

*lurker here* You are not supposed to retract the foreskin on an intact penis on a baby boy. On baby boys the foreskin is fused to the penis glans and if you retract the foreskin you'll rip open a sore there. And probably cause an infection or scar issues later on since the foreskin will reattach to penis and next time you retract you'll rip open the old sore and so on. Intact boys are supposed to retract the foreskin themselves later on. So if you don't circumcise don't retract.

shevaCC · August 2016

I left the decision to DH and he stalled until DS was 6 weeks old, then decided that he wanted DS to be circumcised since he is and our nephews are. MIL and FIL (strangely, I thought) felt very strongly about it too. It was mildly traumatic to circumcise him at that age -- newborn would've been a lot easier. But after the first 48 hours, it's been fine ever since.

The males on my side of the family haven't been circumcised for the last few generations so I wasn't at all pushing it. But...when I read the research it was close enough to 50/50 that I didn't have a strong opinion. Thus my decision to leave it to the parent with the penis, lol.

kristah2 · August 2016

I am undecided. We are having a boy. I told DH he can make the call. He is not and has never had any issues but we have friends who have had horrible infections in their 20's including one who had to be circumcised in his 20's. The recovery then is a whole lot harder than an infant.
I told DH if we don't I'm leaving all things penis to him because it has to be cared for in such a particular way as they get older including when they start washing themselves making sure it's been pulled back enough to be cleaned. If DH makes the decision on whether or not is done he also gets to be on penis duty forever.

erinlin25 · August 2016

we will for sure circumcise.

mrsmoose5 · August 2016

The only thing I would suggest is, if you do decide to do it, make sure it's done in the hospital before you leave. Like a lot of others, I didn't feel strongly either way about it so I let DH make the choice, but the doctors in the hospital were "too busy" to do it while we were there so we had to have it done a few weeks later. It was awful for me. By that time, I was so attached to DS and it killed me to take him in to have some painful procedure done that then didn't seem necessary. I cried through the whole thing, and it was especially hard when they took him from me and I could hear him screaming from down the hall. He recovered quickly and it was all fine, but I honestly will never forget that day and how upsetting and traumatizing it was for me.

atcwag · August 2016

DS is circumcised. I left the decision to my husband. If this baby is a boy (we're team green), I'm sure he will be as well. Had it been me making the sole decision, I'm not sure I would have, but it's not high on my "battles" list.

kvruns · August 2016

Mine will be in the hospital (barring any unforeseen reason why it couldn't be done right after he is born)

Greencows4812 · August 2016

I did not have a strong opinion one way or the other. I knew the concerns with both and was prepared to handle either situation. I left the decision up to my husband and he chose to have his boys match him.

hellopartyof5 · August 2016

mrsmoose5 said:

The only thing I would suggest is, if you do decide to do it, make sure it's done in the hospital before you leave. Like a lot of others, I didn't feel strongly either way about it so I let DH make the choice, but the doctors in the hospital were "too busy" to do it while we were there so we had to have it done a few weeks later. It was awful for me. By that time, I was so attached to DS and it killed me to take him in to have some painful procedure done that then didn't seem necessary. I cried through the whole thing, and it was especially hard when they took him from me and I could hear him screaming from down the hall. He recovered quickly and it was all fine, but I honestly will never forget that day and how upsetting and traumatizing it was for me.

I would actually say the exact opposite. My OB didn't take enough skin off so now we have to go to a urologist and my LO is 21 mos. I've done some research and apparently it's a pretty common problem. I would much rather have it done properly at first with someone who specializes in that area and have told MH we're doing that if our next child is a boy. However, just be warned if you do go to the urologist to have it done, insurance may not cover it.

leighry · August 2016

@nauticalife your OB did the circ?? I'm sorry he needs a revision. My good friends son had to do that too and she luckily said he did pretty well without much pain after. Hoping for the same for your little guy. We have a pedi surgeon who does them where I deliver.. but there are no guarantees I guess that a revision won't be needed. All I can do is cross my fingers!

hellopartyof5 · August 2016

leighry said:

@nauticalife your OB did the circ?? I'm sorry he needs a revision. My good friends son had to do that too and she luckily said he did pretty well without much pain after. Hoping for the same for your little guy. We have a pedi surgeon who does them where I deliver.. but there are no guarantees I guess that a revision won't be needed. All I can do is cross my fingers!

Yes @leighry around here that's standard practice unfortunately. It especially stinks because my OB is so attentive and absolutely great as my provider, I just am not thrilled with this one part. So if there's a next time I'm doing a "workaround".

theGDpaterfamilias · August 2016

Not going to. As a PP said, I see it as a rather antiquated practice and totally optional, akin to piercing a baby girl's ears. I'm not one of those "it's torture!" folks but I definitely see it as unnecessary. Seeing no benefit, I'm opting out.

laurenlalap · September 2016

theGDpaterfamilias said:

Not going to. As a PP said, I see it as a rather antiquated practice and totally optional, akin to piercing a baby girl's ears. I'm not one of those "it's torture!" folks but I definitely see it as unnecessary. Seeing no benefit, I'm opting out.

Ditto this!

KRMcD · September 2016

Definitely a lower risk of infections, but if you are undecided I would say don't do it. We did with our first and will with this one as well, but honestly I wish we hadn't with our first. When/if you interview a pediatrician you can ask about circumcision rates in your area if you are worried about future locker room conversations.