What is the process of circumcision for newborn boys?

Question

How old are they normally when it is done and who does it? Is it true that if its going to be done its best to be done while they are babies instead of when they grow to be adults, etc?

Answer 1

They usually do it in the hospital within a few days of his birth.

If I could just inject my opinion, it's an extremely painful, barbaric and unnecessary procedure.  True, they don't remember, but it doesn't make the pain any less real.  I'm convinced it traumatizes them as well.

Answer 2

Most babies get it in the hospital before they even leave unless there are complications with something else, or if it will take place at a briss (sp?) days later.

If, for whatever reason, you decide to circumcise your son, it's definitely better to do it as a baby than as an adult.

Answer 3

My son was circumcised the day after he was born. They did the procedure in the hospital.

Circumcision is usually performed at the hospital right after birth.The f******n is the skin that covers the head (called the glans) of the p***s in an uncircumcised male. If a baby is not circumcised, the connections between the f******n and the glans will loosen and separate during the first few years of life, allowing the f******n to be retracted behind the glans. Circumcision involves separating the f******n from the glans and removing it so that the glans is exposed.

Long before the American Academy of Pediatrics issued its first policy statement on circumcision, the practice was well established in the Judeo-Christian tradition. Thousands of years later, in 1971, the Academy acknowledged the historical tradition, but found “no absolute medical indication for routine circumcision.” This position was maintained until 1989, when the Academy’s evaluation of then-recent data led to the belief that “medical benefits, as well as risk” were associated with newborn circumcisions. In 1999, as a result of new research, the Academy modified its position and while acknowledging potential medical benefits, clearly stated that these benefits were not sufficient to cause the Academy to recommend routine circumcision.

The Academy’s 1999 policy against routine circumcision is based on an attempt to establish a balance between the “benefits” of circumcision with the “risks” of remaining uncircumcised. Specifically, the Academy noted that while circumcised boys younger than 1 year of age were less likely to get a urinary tract infection (UTI) compared to uncircumcised boys, the overall rate of UTI’s in boys is so low that the “benefit” is negligible.

The Academy also noted that while circumcised men are less likely to get cancer of the p***s anytime during their lifetimes compared to uncircumcised men, the overall rate of penile cancer is so low that the “benefit” is negligible.

To this balance, the Academy also added the risks of the actual circumcision procedure. Such risks include infection, excessive bleeding, pain, and cosmetic concerns. Infection, as a result of the procedure, is very uncommon. So too, are incidences of excessive bleeding. A thorough family history regarding bleeding disorders can significantly decrease this risk. The issue of pain is very real, as research indicates that newborns are capable of feeling pain. Infants who experience pain have elevated blood pressure, heart rate, and stress hormone levels. Therefore, every attempt must be made to minimize the pain associated with the procedure. The most effective form of pain relief is the injection of numbing medicine in a ring around the base of the p***s.

Finally, cosmetic concerns may exist following a circumcision. In the majority of cases, these concerns diminish over time as the natural growth and development of the p***s takes place.

In the end, the Academy could offer no significant medical benefits to advocate routine circumcision. Their policy is against routine circumcision.

Why, then, do the majority of American newborn boys get circumcised? The answer is because of social reasons. Most parents who choose to have their son circumcised do so because they “want him to look like his dad” or brother

The obstetrician or the baby’s pediatrician will perform the circumcision before the baby is discharged from the hospital. Following the circumcision, the glans will appear red and the cut edge of the f******n may ooze for several hours. Care involves applying A&D ointment or Vaseline jelly on a cotton gauze and placing the gauze loosely over the glans. This will prevent the irritated glans from rubbing against the diaper. Over the course of 3 to 5 days, a soft, yellowish scab will develop over the glans, and by the 7th day, the site should be essentially healed.

Care of the uncircumcised p***s involves cleansing the outside with warm water and a gentle soap. No attempt to force the f******n back should be made, as the ability to retract the f******n will occur gradually over the course of 3 to 5 years. Boys should be taught to retract the f******n and clean this area during regular bathing.

Certain situations, such as a significantly premature delivery, make a circumcision prior to hospital discharge difficult or impossible. In such cases, arrangements to have the baby circumcised may be possible as soon as the baby has grown enough. Such arrangements, however, are difficult should the parents of a full term, normal infant elect to have the circumcision performed after discharge. Matters of insurance coverage come into play, and if the baby is older than one month, a urologist may need to perform the procedure. Beyond a few months of age, the use of general anesthesia is the standard practice.

In the event the cosmetic outcome is undesirable, a consult with a urologist will be necessary, as this is the specialist best suited to explain the situation and discuss the risks and benefits of a possible revision.

In the end, the decision to circumcise or not to circumcise is one for parents to ponder long before the eventual birth. Parents should speak freely and honestly with each other. Information should be read and discussed. The obstetrician or pediatrician should be consulted. Ultimately, it will be your decision, and one that will have a lasting impact.

http://www.expectantmothersguide.com/lib...

Answer 4

Pain Pain Pain is the process !  why put baby through unnessary pain its how you teach your child to look after it !! Most parents get it done simply as the DADS have a issue with it well I was done so they will be like me !!  PLEASE ...........  DOnt be so lazy and teach your child hw to wash properly down there, Ive never had problem with my son !

Answer 5

my son is circumcised and they did it there at the hospital in another room.They put something around it and then cut off the extra part.And my son did not cry at all when they did it and all you have to do to take care of it is put a gauze with vaseline on it and that's it and change that every time you change their diaper for a week or two depending on the baby and how fast he heals up.And there is nothing barbaric about it.Most of the guys that I know are circumcised themselves and I asked the Dr before my son got it done and they said that majority of people do this.

Answer 6

Basically they strap the baby down, then peel the f******n back (infant foreskins are attached to the head of the p***s the way that your nail is attached to your finger).  Then they either but a cover on the head of the p***s and cut the f******n off against it, draw it up and use a round metal cutter just to cut off the top of the f******n, or apply a plastic bell that crushes the blood vessels then cut it off.

When you circumcise a newborn as opposed to a post-pubescent boy you can guessing how much skin they will one day need.  It is relatively common to take too little which causes the hairy shaft skin to be pulled onto the p***s, for it to grow unevenly which can cause the p***s to bend, or for too little to be taken and then some choose to take more to make it look better.

A baby also can't tell you when they experience the first signs of infection, unlike a teen/adult.  Teens and adults also have far more anesthetic choices available both during and after circumcision, and more antibiotics available to them.  Also open wound in a diaper? OWIE.

Penn and Teller did a doc on it: http://video.yahoo.com/watch/620449/2940...

Complications of Circumcision

http://www.circumstitions.com/Complic.ht...

One man's horribly botched

Periah Circumcision

http://www.covenantcircumcision.info/pag...

Circumcision & f******n Restoration

http://oliver.prygotzki.de/privat/einsic...

Complications of circumcision

http://www.cirp.org/library/complication...

Answer 7

The process is, the nurse come and takes your baby to the nursery, they apply a topical numbing agent and wait 15-20 min. Your OB will usually perform the quick nip.  

My son didn't even cry and then sleep the rest of the day.  He was healed within a week.  We've never had any problem with it and it was important to my husband that they were similar "down there".

I read that if the mother chooses to wait and let the boy decide, it may result in a higher probability of infection.

Answer 8

Circumcision is done with the baby strapped down, he cannot fight back or protect himself, even if he had the coordination to do so.

Many times no anaesthesia is used.   It is painful to the baby, regardless of what method is used.    There are several different methods, from cutting it off, to using a plastic bell to cut blood supply off, kill the f******n and then it drops off after some days.

Female circumcision is mutilation.     It is illegal to perform female genital mutilation on minors in all civilized countries.     Males do not have the same protection under the law.    This is unconstitutional.

Male circumcision is mutilation.     It damages the p***s, and can cause drastic complications--it certainly did with me, and I hate my parents (both deceased) and the medical profession for mutilating me.

From Medical News Today, 09 JUN 2008

Newborn Circumcision; The Controversy Revisited

"    The jury is still out, but the take home message was that circumcision is nt without its complications nd one of these complications is death."

"    It appears to be a risky procedure with truly little medical indication in the newborn period."

---Annual Meeting of the American Urological Association (AUA)

www.urotoday.com

Other complications include gangrene, catastrophic infection including MRSA, Staph and Strep, and future sexual dysfunction.

Roughly 10% of circumcisions require additional surgeries to attempt to repair damage from the first one.

Circumcision damages the p***s, decreases sensitivity, causes inhibited development of the p***s because of the insult and trauma to the tissues, and can cause tight, painful and distorted erections in adulthood.

Women react with horror regarding female genital mutilation, as it damages the genitals, ruins sexual response and scars the individual for life---male circumcision does the same thing.

It's his body, let him make the decision when he is at the right age to decide for himself if he wants his genitals mutilated.

A f******n is not a birth defect; it is a birthright.

Answer 9

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=...

This should turn you off of the idea of having your baby circumcised.  Just imagine him peeing and pooing on that incision with a diaper wrapped around it.  Sounds like cruelty to me.

Answer 10

If you look on web sites you can find videos and descriptions of the procedures. There are different ways of doing it.

I don't think it's best done when a baby for several reasons.

1) Babies do not get the same pain relief an adult does - no pain relief is used in a lot of circumcisions, and it's not proper anaesthetic in the ones that do have pain relief.

2) A baby's p***s is very small, so the doctor can't tell how much skin to remove (they don't know how big it will grow) and sometimes they remove too much which leads to problems later. Also, there is a chance of the whole p***s being removed (look up David Reimer) which is much rarer, if it happens with adults.

3) Babies do die from the procedure. They can go into shock - which is why you hear stories about how they don't cry.

4) The f******n is fused to the glans in infants (like a fingernail and finger). So they have to separate it before they cut it by forcing a probe up there. Like having a fingernail ripped off. In adults, it's not attached so they don't have to forcibly separate, just cut it.

5) An adult can give consent and understand what's happening, a baby can't. Also, they know when to take pain killers in the aftermath, whereas babies can't vocalise this and often aren't giving anything.

6) Less risk of infection with an adult - with a baby the wound is stuck in a nappy (diaper) with urine and faeces which is not clean.

Also, if it's not done as a baby, the chance of it needing to be done or the adult choosing for it to be done is really small. It's rarely needed for medical reasons (though some doctors overdiagnose it because surgery gets them more money than cream etc) and most adult guys are very happy to have their f******n and never choose to get it done.

I wouldn't do it if I had sons. It's not medically necessary and it's a cruel welcome into the world.

Harriet

Answer 11

The babies that have it done at birth are no more than one or two days old and getting it done as a older man would be the same because they are big babies also (smile).

The procedure only last 5 minutes, the Doctor puts the babies in a papoose looking plastic holding tray and strap the knees down so they wont move, then the f******n is measured and that's when the babies begins to cry and lido cane is used to stop the pain for upcoming cutting, I saw them today use something that almost looked like a paper hole puncher, and as for the baby crying the nurse is right there to give a pacifier dipped in sugar water, they call it sweeties, at that moment each baby I watched get one looked as if they hit gold, they immediately stopped crying at least until they were moved to another location.  I had a ball convincing them it was ok.  Men I was just kidding you could have it done also and wait on the nurse to give you your sweeties.