What to do before a circumcision?

Reconsider

Leave him intact. There is no medical reason to circumcise. A few bull reasons for the argument for...

-it's cleaner

Not really, you have to take care of the wound after. If he's left intact you wash it like you would a finger. You don’t pull the foreskin back, it’s fused there and will remain so until 4-5 sometimes up to puberty.

-it looks nicer

what grown parent looks at their child after babyhood to say "you have a nice looking penis"? Penises don't look nice, they're utilitarian. If when he’s older and has a partner that doesn’t like it, then that person isn’t right for them

-he'll be made fun of in the change room

The rate of circumcision is dropping, so by cutting your son is actually going to make him the odd one out. Plus most boys are too embarrassed to go buck naked in the change room anyways. The fear of being small or having a spontaneous erection is more embarrassing than a foreskin

-he'll be less likely to get STDs

safe sex protects against STD, not being cut

-I want him to look like Daddy, because Daddy is

Unless daddy gets a regular Brazilian or baby come out with full pubes they won't look the same. By the time they look the same they'll be able to communicate their differences

In Australia it's pretty close, seeing as it's already banned in most public hospitals and almost all doctors are against the procedure, certainly all reputable ones are. So the calls to ban it are coming from both politicians and doctors, not activitst groups or anything. In the USA it will take longer and will be a good idea to just change the social ideas first before banning it which will leave people defensive. Unfortunately I think there will be a lot of trouble banning it completely because of the two religions that circumcise and how they believe it's their right. I would think it would be pretty straightforward to legislate against this, seeing as it's not their body it's that of a child and an individual who has not chosen their own religion yet (after all female circumcision is banned) but I don't think many people will be brave enough to stand up to those guys. It's extremely rare in the UK, for example, but a recent petition to the Prime Minister asking to ban it on children was refused on the ridiculous grounds that it was a part of some religions and banning it would just drive the practices underground (funny though female circumcision is part of some religions or people believe it is, and that is banned, and it happens underground too).

Here is some info. Click on the links

A video called "The circumcision decision":

http://video.google.co.uk/videoplay?docid=-5395565...

Non-religious circumcision only started in English-speaking countries in the late 1800's. The main reason was to prevent masturbation. If you want to learn more then look at this site:

http://www.historyofcircumcision.net/

Circumcision rates have dropped in the USA to 60%.

http://www.circumstitions.com/USA.html

In Canada and Australia the rate has dropped to less than 10%. In Britain the rate is less than 1%. Only 20-25% of the world are circumcised, 2/3 of these are Muslim.

The foreskin is a vital part of the penis. Those that are circumcised do not know what they are missing.

The foreskin contains many specialized nerves on it's underside. When the foreskin is moved up and down it is very pleasurable. Circumcised men have lost this ability to masturbate easily as there is no gliding effect. Circumcised men often have to resort to artificial lubrication in masturbation and sex. See here for the function of the foreskin:

http://geocities.com/painfulquestioning/naturalres...

Without the foreskin protecting the glans, circumcised men lose further sensitivity. The glans (head of the penis) dries out. It also brushes on underwear causing the skin to toughen. See here for the full damage done:

http://www.noharmm.org/IDcirc.htm

There are good reasons to believe that sex is better for the woman as well, if the man has his foreskin intact:

http://www.sexasnatureintendedit.com/10F/doctor_no...

Circumcision carries a lot of risks:

http://www.catholicsagainstcircumcision.org/cac_co...

There is also evidence that the pain and discomfort of circumcision disrupts the mother-son bond and also breast feeding. Some evidence suggests the trauma of circumcision has long-term psychological effects.

http://www.cirp.org/library/psych/goldman1/

In terms of care - intact is also a lot easier.

The foreskin is attached to the glans at birth (they have to break this seal to perform the circumcision - this is excruciatingly painful - not that the pain is the worst part of circumcision )

You should never pull back the foreskin or try to clean under it. It requires no care.

The foreskin should be left to become retractable on it's own , it should not be forced. The foreskin becomes retractable by itself. this occurs any time up until the end of puberty, though the average age is 5-10 years. Until then, nothing to do. A lot of doctors/nurses are not familiar with this - don't let them retract it.

Once it becomes retractable, there is little care - just wash it like any other body part. It is not dirty - if it was then women would be a lot dirtier. Most men worldwide (75-80%) are intact and have no problems.

http://www.cirp.org/pages/parents/care/

As for health benefits they are minimal to non-existent - and certainly don't outweigh the downsides. Men in Britain, France Germany and Italy for instance don't get circumcised and they all do fine. Leave the decision up to your little boy - his body- his rights. See here for info about health:

http://pediatrics.aappublications.org/cgi/eletters...

I think you should take some time to wonder why God or Mother Nature or whatever Force that Be you believe in; made him the way he is; and then ask yourself if your reasons for changing the way he is really make sense?

Maybe you might consider postponing that appointment for say, a decade or so and then see if he would like to do it?

I just do not understand why babies' opinions do not matter just because they can't communicate them effectively?

And I really really hate to say this because I usually am the first person to say that usually the best way to win someone over is not with criticism & harsh words but this is something that truly deserves outrage---WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU AND SCORES OF OTHER PARENTS WHO THINK THAT THEY HAVE THE RIGHT TO ALTER THEIR CHILDREN'S BODIES?

WHAT IS THE BIG F-ING DEAL IF HE GETS A LITTLE UTI AT SOME POINT FROM BAD HYGIENE.

IF HE GETS STDS IT IS BECAUSE HE DIDN'T USE PROTECTION.

IF HIS FORESKIN DOES NOT MOVE BACK BY ITSELF OVER TIME HE CAN VERY SIMPLY RESOLVE THE ISSUE HIMSELF BY PULLING IT BACK OVER 6-12 MONTHS.

AND WHAT IF HIS FUTURE WIFE HATES CIRCUMCISED PENISES?

AND SORRY, DAD'S PREFERENCES SHOULD NOT BE A LEGIT REASON.

GET A LIFE AND LEAVE YOUR SON'S PENIS ALONE!

If I was you I'd try to make sure it was clean before bringing him in to get it done.

Also if you don't mind me suggesting, having them circumcise him as tight as possible with the frendulum removed is usually the best appearance and cleanliness wise.

My friend didn't get her son done that well, and he got an infection that had to be treated, so after it was done healing and he recovered they went for a recircumcision, and she made sure the doctors removed as much foreskin as possible from his penis, and now it is much cleaner, and is much nicer looking. Makes it look like a good job was done the first time.

That's what I'm going to do if I have any sons, but to each their own.

my son was also in the NICU and was not able to be circumcised. When we took him to get it done the dr had us give him some tylenol and every 4 hours for the rest of the day. He cried when he had it done but not at all after that.

I don't know about anything before hand, but just a note for after-yes, you want to have petroleum jelly (or whatever the doctor recommends you use), but it will make the diapers less absorbent. So expect to have to change more often and have more leaks until he heals.

Reconsider and save him from this. I wish my parents had. You are doing him harm, which is why people are voicing their opposition.

Cancel?

It's your child, but it's not your penis. Ew. The way you treat your child like property disturbs me a bit.

For my two boys the Dr. suggested that I give them Tylenol about 30 minutes before the appointment. Which I did. Makes sense, probably lessens the pain for them. Poor little guys.