https://boards.hellobee.com/ Pregnancy, Baby and Parenting blog, by Hellobee en Wed, 20 May 2026 00:02:34 +0000 https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-circumcision/page/2#post-2883030 Thu, 02 May 2019 21:08:28 +0000 DesertDreams88 2883030@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Here's the part I don't get. On this thread there have been many stories shared of getting it done as a teenager or adult and it being very traumatic. Who's to say that getting it done as a newborn isn't also deeply traumatic? they just can't vocalize it or have clear memories afterwards? That's what really troubles me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-circumcision#post-2883006 Thu, 02 May 2019 18:28:50 +0000 ShootingStar 2883006@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We circumcised DS in the hospital. We discussed it a lot first and ultimately I let DH make the decision. He is circumcised and he felt like he was more familiar with that and that it would be easier to keep clean. </p> <p>In the hospital I almost didn’t let them take him away to do it. And then I was so upset afterwards. I felt like I had cut off a piece of my beautiful perfect baby for no good reason. And I felt that way for a long time. I was worried that our second would be a boy and I’d have to decide if they should be different from each other. It was girl though, phew. </p> <p>Fast forward to almost six years later and I have a five year old who’s constantly grabbing at his penis because it’s uncomfortable. We have to remind him all the time to clean it and wipe after he pees because if he doesn’t it gets red and irritated. It seems to get irritated a lot in general. (Is this a normal boy thing??)</p> <p>So now I’m more okay with the decision we made. I think the issues he has would be worse and it would be harder to get him to take care of it. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-circumcision#post-2882912 Thu, 02 May 2019 09:25:26 +0000 RonjaL7 2882912@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Ms. RV: Oh yes! We did the plastibell after much research. It was a great decision. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-circumcision#post-2882910 Thu, 02 May 2019 09:17:19 +0000 RonjaL7 2882910@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We chose to do it because we have a close friend that had to have it done later in life and they told us about the experience. That friend had a boy prior to his surgery that he didn't do it for and was heartbroken over that decision, given what he had recently been through. </p> <p>That said, I left the decision entirely up to my husband as I felt that was more appropriate as I didn't have the body part in question. :wink: </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-circumcision#post-2882902 Thu, 02 May 2019 08:45:58 +0000 Alba4 2882902@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Circumcision is very common in our area. All the men in our family are circumcised, so we chose to for both our boys. There were no complications and they healed quickly. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-circumcision#post-2882890 Thu, 02 May 2019 06:53:58 +0000 cake2017 2882890@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We got my son circumcised for many reasons. He wasn’t uncomfortable or in pain and the procedure was quick(15mins) completes by my OB. It was easy to take care of for the few days to week after bringing him home. We are expecting a girl now but if we were having a boy I’d do it again and get him circumcised. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-circumcision#post-2882887 Thu, 02 May 2019 04:48:43 +0000 Mrs. Lemon-Lime 2882887@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Another poster mentioned the skin re-adhering and using Vaseline.</p> <p>For the first two weeks the cleaning process at diaper changes was rinsing off the penis with clean water (squirt bottle) and gently patting that dry followed by a Vaseline lathered gauze strip on top of the penis and then fastening the diaper. As a newborn there are so many doctor appointments and his pediatrician did the heavy lifting the 2 or 3 times during the first year his skin reattached. He cried a bit, but it wasn’t nearly as long as when he received immunizations. Even those quickly quieted with a little holding and comfort. In the bathtub as an infant we just made sure to pull back the skin. When he was little bathtime was just once a week. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-circumcision#post-2882878 Wed, 01 May 2019 23:11:36 +0000 thepicklemonster 2882878@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Part of why I really love the HB community is because we can discuss such a hot topic with so much civility and respect. Here is my story. We were team green with my first and I was pushing to circumcise. My husband was against it. We were both raised Jewish and everyone in our families is circumcised, including DH himself, but he felt it was mutilation and is unfair to do absent evidence of major health benefits. Every guy I’ve ever been with has been circumcised and for some reason I felt strongly that we should do it. We had a boy and I somehow got my way. My OB did the procedure when DS was 2 days old. I was still hooked up to the IV post c section so my DH was in the room and I was not. It truly traumatized him. My OB did a good job but we found there was also a lot of maintenance afterwards. You need to make sure the skin doesn’t adhere and need to constantly apply vaseline. My son is 2.5 now everything is fine but feel bad that I pushed for it without a good reason. We had baby #2 a few months ago and it would have been a very difficult decision to make but thankfully it was a girl. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-circumcision#post-2882873 Wed, 01 May 2019 22:04:17 +0000 SupernovaJ 2882873@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We circumcised DS and personally the experience was traumatic for us! We are currently expecting Baby #3 (Team Green) and should the baby be a boy, won’t be circumcising him, though brother and dad are both circumcised. There’s really no wrong decision, as parents the best we can do is make an informed choice. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-circumcision#post-2882852 Wed, 01 May 2019 19:37:05 +0000 DesertDreams88 2882852@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We didn't circumcise. </p> <p>You might be surprised at how low the rates of circumcision actually are in your area, as a previous poster said. look your area up.</p> <p>Also, I disagree with the comment that there's way less pain as a newborn compared to a teenager. You can't measure pain. Maybe you mean that there would be less memories of that, but the pain is still there, because the procedure is still essentially the same. It's cutting off some of the most sensitive tissue on the human body. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-circumcision#post-2882851 Wed, 01 May 2019 19:31:56 +0000 Ms. RV 2882851@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have much to add to the do vs. don't decision, but I wanted to suggest you talk to the doc about a plastibell if you are concerned with pain. DS had his done when he was 7 weeks and he was in very little pain from it (and easier to tell if he was in pain). We just put something (lube? I forget- the hospital gave it to us) so it wouldn't rub against the diaper. The process seems like it might be a little gentler since it is just one cut. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-circumcision#post-2882844 Wed, 01 May 2019 18:58:41 +0000 ALV91711 2882844@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did for both boys. I left the decision up to DH as I didn’t feel strong either way. The procedure was quick both times and the healing went fine.</p> <p>I hope you don’t have too hard of a time deciding, just do what feels right for your family. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-circumcision#post-2882828 Wed, 01 May 2019 16:14:59 +0000 MamaBear87 2882828@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We are not. I would never cut off my babies finger because there's a small chance it could get infected in the future and I view cutting off the foreskin the same way.<br /> It's also not true that newborns feel no pain when it's done. They feel shock from the pain and so they don't cry. I'd rather do it if it becomes necessary with proper anesthesia. </p> <p>There are several other reasons we aren't doing it and I found basically no reasons for doing it. </p> <p>If you are doing it for religious reasons I can see that but don't understand doing it just because everyone else is. (Which isn't even really a valid reason at this point) </p> <p>That said I respect that for some families it is the right decision </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-circumcision#post-2882825 Wed, 01 May 2019 15:38:29 +0000 LCTBQE 2882825@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@smuckers: we circumcised our son because my husband felt strongly about it, and we’re both from families where all men are. My OB did it in the hospital at 1 day old. I always thought it looked weird and like she left way too much foreskin on. We ended up taking him to a pediatric urologist at 28 months and the surgeon was like, “yep, your son is half circumcised.” Hard to describe and it was purely aesthetic, but he really looked strange and every one of his caregivers or our close friends had noticed and wondered what the deal was—I just didn’t want him to have to go through his whole life explaining himself or feeling self conscious. So in February we had a surgery that went perfectly and now he looks completely how we expected from the get-go. It was not ideal, but ultimately fine, recovery was a total non issue, and I’m glad we got the correction done sooner rather than later. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-circumcision#post-2882821 Wed, 01 May 2019 15:18:20 +0000 lilyofthewest 2882821@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>Neither of my sons are circumcised. There were two main things influencing the decision for me and my partner:<br /> 1) My partner had complications from circumcision and needed a revision (which also had healing complications...) as a teen. Clearly, this is unusual, but it was close to home for us.<br /> 2) Consent. I wouldn't otherwise alter my child's body or subject them to a surgical procedure without their consent unless there was an unambiguous health benefit. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-circumcision#post-2882814 Wed, 01 May 2019 14:52:36 +0000 MenagerieMama 2882814@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I work in healthcare. I was trained to do circs (and did probably a few dozen as a resident). My DH is intact and LO3 due in August is a boy and will not be circumsized. It wasn't even a discussion in our family. And I actually made the decisions to not perform circs professionally anymore either. I just don't feel like an elective, cosmetic surgery makes sense in the first world country that we live in. There are some circumstances where being circed would be a benefit as an adult, but those are minimal and I feel like they are balanced out with the risks of a circumcision. Those are my 2 cents anyhow.</p> <p>Also, most insurances won't cover them anymore - so if you decided to do it, check first! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-circumcision#post-2882812 Wed, 01 May 2019 14:51:06 +0000 Umbreon 2882812@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did not and felt strongly about it. There is no medical need for it. It was never mentioned at the hospital or by the pediatrician, I dont think it's very common where I live anymore. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-circumcision#post-2882809 Wed, 01 May 2019 14:18:49 +0000 Pollywog 2882809@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@graceandjoy: it came up in conversation with my provider. I asked if she had cared for kids who weren't circumcised and she responded that over half of the kids were. I was surprised! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-circumcision#post-2882807 Wed, 01 May 2019 14:11:52 +0000 Petitduck 2882807@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We didn’t. My husband is, but I felt pretty strongly that we shouldn’t. And I also looked at pictures of a procedure being done once, when our son was already here and a few months old and it made me really sad. I know they’re little and they don’t remember and heal quickly, but it still was hard to stomach for me. There is nothing you need to do for cleaning purposes or teach them until years down the road and it’s pretty easy. When they’re a baby you just don’t touch it! Ha. </p> <p> Of the boys I know closely born in the last 9 years 4 out of 10 got circumcised. I have no regrets. The only thing that gives me pause sometimes is potential issues when they’re very old, but I do try to give future care providers the benefit of the doubt and like to think they’ll properly take care of my children when the time comes. It isn’t recommended in my area anymore so you need to pay out or pocket when it used to be covered by ohip, which speaks volumes to me. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-circumcision#post-2882805 Wed, 01 May 2019 14:08:47 +0000 nwm 2882805@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did it for my DS for a lot of the same reasons you listed above. FWIW, my OB does it at like 2 days while still in the hospital, and for us the healing was a non-issue, in fact our pediatrician commented a couple times what a nice job the OB had done. So my lesson learned is, if you do decide to go for it might be worth exploring options because I think the quality of the circumcision can make some difference, especially in how fast/easily it heals, how much blood is involved etc. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-circumcision#post-2882798 Wed, 01 May 2019 13:50:38 +0000 Mrs. Champagne 2882798@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did not I didn’t see the point. There’s no special cleaning required. </p> <p>Out of my 8 closest friends 6 have boys. 2 have circd and 4 have not. I think the more common thing these days is to not be. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-circumcision#post-2882797 Wed, 01 May 2019 13:50:27 +0000 muffinsmuffins 2882797@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We did not circumcise our two boys and no regrets. It’s becoming less common in our area and I don’t even think anyone at the hospital asked us when our second son was born (they did for our first during the bathing part after) </p> <p>We are a two mom family so we did ask a few male friends and family to do our due diligence and find out if there was something we were overlooking. If course everyone knows someone who had an infection, horror story, etc. But when it came down to it we just didn’t feel it was necessary to do a procedure that is optional and to us, and not important. We have had no issues with cleaning or otherwise. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-circumcision#post-2882792 Wed, 01 May 2019 13:41:33 +0000 annem1990 2882792@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I left the decision up to my husband and he decided to circumcise (he is as well). I don’t remember the healing being really noticeable at all and will do it again if we have another boy. </p> <p>My sister is a nurse and does have horror stories of how gross things can get in a hospital setting or for elderly patients who aren’t circumcised. I’m sure those are extreme circumstances and in most cases that does not happen, though. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-circumcision#post-2882790 Wed, 01 May 2019 13:36:13 +0000 Ajsmommy 2882790@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We had our son circumcised. DH is circumcised and it wasn't even really a question. I will add that it looked painful after it was done but it didn't appear to bother DS at all. We had it done in the hospital when he was 1 day old. We had no issues, it healed easily. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-circumcision#post-2882789 Wed, 01 May 2019 13:29:01 +0000 Autumnmama79 2882789@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@smuckers: We did it for religious reasons (husbands). I hated it. Cried like a baby in the waiting room, made DH go in with DS for the actual procedure on his own, I couldn't bear to watch. The aftermath was traumatic for me (the blood, diaper changes, etc), took a good ten days to heal. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-circumcision#post-2882788 Wed, 01 May 2019 13:20:11 +0000 graceandjoy 2882788@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@Pollywog: How did you know about the other kids? Just curious! </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-circumcision#post-2882786 Wed, 01 May 2019 12:48:54 +0000 Pollywog 2882786@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>We didn't circumcise. I didn't want to inflict pain to my baby and I didn't see a medical need. I realize they give pain killers and there are benefits, but my pediatrician and midwife both said that they were neutral on the topic and don't recommend it (or against it).</p> <p> I thought my kids would be one of a few that are uncircumcised, but the majority of kids in their daycare aren't circumcised. (See here for statistics: <a href="http://www.cirp.org/library/statistics/USA//)" rel="nofollow">http://www.cirp.org/library/statistics/USA//)</a>. To me it boiled down to the fact that it seemed like it was an unnecessary (but small) risk </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-circumcision#post-2882784 Wed, 01 May 2019 12:45:31 +0000 youboots 2882784@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I think people have to to choose what’s right for your family and I don’t think father and son need to be the same. However I think brothers should be the same. </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-circumcision#post-2882769 Wed, 01 May 2019 11:23:48 +0000 MaryM 2882769@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>I don't have anything personally to add to the convo, but wanted to share there's a really good episode of the Unorthodox Podcast on circumcision. (I'm not Jewish, but I love the podcast, and found the perspectives on both sides really interesting!) </p> https://boards.hellobee.com/topic/talk-to-me-about-circumcision#post-2882768 Wed, 01 May 2019 11:21:15 +0000 smuckers 2882768@https://boards.hellobee.com/ <p>@babycanuck: @graceandjoy: @Sams Mom: @Silva: @MrsMom: @Becky: @bhbee: @DillonLion: @Mrs. Lemon-Lime: </p> <p>Thank you, truly, for sounding off on your experiences. This post has given me a lot to think on, and actually lead down a road I hadn't thought to go previously (thank you so much Becky, even if you didn't mean to correlate diabetes with circumcision!). </p> <p>I still have some research to do, but I just wanted to make sure I said thank you to all of you for your input and experience on what can be a touchy issue. </p>