What should I know about circumsion done on newborn boys?

Question

My partner is circumcised and in November when our child is born we want to circumcise him as well. Please no rude comments. I need to know when is this done, who does it and is there anything I need to know about circumcisions? I know babies are given Vitamin K to help coagulate their blood but should they be circumcised before that or after?

Answer 1

ok, so my boy was born a week ago ( 7 days) and we had him circumcised at the hospital before we left. I asked his Doctor before i delivered and she said that the best way is to do it when we are still at the hospital.  But make sure to tell them that you want to have it done so they will put you in line.

It's a 15 min thing, they take him and bring him back, it is done by a Pediatrician ( baby doctor, don't know how to spell it), they give the baby a local anastisia so he won't feel anything. Some babies get bothered by the anastisia and it's feeling some don't . mine did well. And then for like a week or two you have to put Vaseline on it each time you change diapers so it doesn't stick to the diaper. And that is about it.

My baby had it done 4 days ago, before we left hospital, and is doing just fine. it's healing nice. and plus it looks weired when it's not done.  

Answer 2

Most hospitals offer to do it right there, but many parents opt to have it done a week or so later at the pediatrician's office.  It is up to you.  When you see the circumcision rate published in an article or something, these ones that take place in the doctor's offices aren't reflected -- it is still quite common and the norm in the USA.

There are different methods (the main ones being the Gomco clamp and the Plastibell) so you should do some research and ask which one they use.  Also make sure to inquire about anesthesia and make sure it is used.  I read somewhere that vitamin K levels naturally peak around the 8th day, which is why in the Jewish faith they perform the bris on the 8th day of life.  

Here are some videos and information about the different methods.

http://newborns.stanford.edu/Circumcisio...

Answer 3

I just had my first baby on july 1st and his dad is circumcised.  I personally didn't want to do it because I feel as though it is genital muitilation.  Yet I gave in b/c my hubby said they should look the same. THey give the Vit K shot right after birth and most doctors make sure the baby is at least 24 hrs old before they cut.  I say if you guys do it, do it before you leave the hospital. They say that their nervous system isn't fully in tact and it doesn't hurt much.  My doc took my son for 8 mins and brought him back and he wasn't crying, his face wasn't red and i checked his little heartbeat and it was normal.   He had the plastibell  <--  method of circumcision, they say it is less painful?  but who knows.  hope this long note helps!  Good luck and congrats!

Answer 4

when my son was born 22 years ago they did it before we left the hospital  when my  grandson was born last year they did it at the doctors office a few weeks later but i think that is only because he was in the nicu for a while.  normally it is done before they leave the hospital  normally a pediatrician does it and they will give you full instructions for after care. which is basically keep it clean so it doesnt get infected  

Answer 5

I have a 5 month old son who was circumcised by his pediatrician at the hospital about 12 hours after he was born.  The procedure was simple and caring for him simply required a vaseline and gauze 'dressing' at each diaper change (it's not as daunting as it may sound).  

A point to consider in the timing of the circumcision is that following the procedure, the baby will only want to sleep for the next day or so.  We didn't know this and had our son circumcised as early as offered even though he was having trouble latching-on (breastfed).  Because of that, we spent an extra night at the hospital monitoring his low blood sugars.  

I believe the Vitamin K is given very soon after birth, so I believe it will likely occur prior to the circumcision.

Best of wishes for the end of pregnancy and birth of the sweet boy!  

Answer 6

My son was circumcised at 2 days old (before we left the Hospital.)

I applied Vaseline at every diaper changing. He never had a problem.

He never even cried during the procedure ..

Answer 7

Cirsumcising is done I believe the second day after they are born. It is a plus to do it because if they want it done when they are older it's a painful procedure. When my son had it done I would apply vaseline to it every diaper change. When the gauze was falling off I took a washcloth with warm water and dripped it over the area and helped it to come off completely. It's not difficult to take care of and I never had any issues with my boy. Just keep the area clean.

Answer 8

My son had it done in the hospital at 36 hours old. My OBGYN was the one who performed the procedure. She gave me all the aftercare instructions after she finished. It took about 15 min. to complete the procedure. Just make sure that you use plenty of Vaseline in the diaper after wards so the p***s does not stick to the diaper.  

Answer 9

My 1st son was circumsized when he was 1 day old, in the hospital.

My 2nd son was circumsized at 11 days old...   (Different hospital than the first.  They do not do circumcision at this hospital at all.)

A doctor does the circumcision....  

Answer 10

I had my son circumcised, and there's very little that can go wrong. I mean it is a wound and it needs to be taken care of, if you notice he has bleeding that is not getting better you take him in. Other than that apply vasline after keep the area clean. And there will be no lasting effects, and he will not have a memory of it, children do not have memorys till after 3

I have heard of grown men having to get this done due to getting to many UTI's so I'd totally just get it done. I mean I wont agrue with proper hygine uncircumsised men are fine, but on the off chance your son has a sensitivity and gets lots of UTI's do him a favor and chop it off early. :)

I thought Vit K was to help the eye's from getting infections....I cant remember.

My son slept through the procedure, so I have doubts that its really all that painful. And I dont believe that he got sleepy due to the stress as some ill informed people would say....pain is pain and any parent knows if he was really in pain he'd be screaming bloodly murder!

Answer 11

I hope you don't take this as a rude comment; I certainly don't mean it that way... but why are you having your son circumcised anyway? I just saw a documentary on this subject and they are finding that some men feel that they have been mutilated and have actually had to go to therapy because of it. I haven't seen any men come forward feeling traumatized because they were not circumcised.

I just don't understand the need for this age old practice anymore. We have access to better hygiene now, so that's not an issue. Even if the baby has a local anesthetic at the time of the circumcision, imagine how painful that is going to be while it's healing - a scab forming on something that naturally will shift around and rub against their diaper etc. and the sting of urine on the healing wound? I am sorry if I am offending you but I wish more people would reconsider this practice.  it just seems to me, that it must be a fairly traumatic procedure for a little being who expects love and gentleness, just coming into the world.