Circumcision

[~Kimba~]

Hi All,

Before I start, can I say that I'm not asking for people's opinions/ reasons on whether to circ or not. I totally respect that everyone has an opinion on this subject, as I do myself, but advice/ opinions on whether to circ or not is NOT what I'm asking for here - I've done plenty of research and soul-searching on that particular argument already.

My DH wishes to circ our son for religious reasons and it's very important to him. Our hospital has advised that they don't do it at birth, so IF we decide to go ahead, it is basically up to us to find a surgeon to do it at a later date. Personally IF it has to be done at all, I would rather wait till our son is old enough to decide for himself, however DH is insistent that it should be done as an infant, in which case IF I agreed, I still wouldn't want to do it until our baby could at least have the surgery with anaesthetic.

For the sake of getting some facts in order to resolve this decision with DH, I just need some info on:

how much circumcision surgery costs
how old a child must be before the surgery can be performed WITH anaesthetic
if there are any recommendations for surgeons in Sydney who can perform this procedure.


Forgive me if I'm asking questions which have been answered elsewhere - I've read through most of the threads in this forum and unless I've missed something, the majority of posts seem to be arguing about reasons to circ/ or not, rather than the info I need.

So if anyone can help with some answers, you can either reply to my post or PM me...

Thanks in advance.

[Briannabear]

Hi! :wave:
I obviously havent got a son so Ive never had to approach this issue yet! However my friend had a son and got him circ'ed.
She said it cost about $200 (approx), and they had it done when he was 3 weeks old.
She had it done in Brisbane so I cant recommend a Sydney doc sorry!
She also said that it was so quick that he didnt even really cry at all. She just breastfed him straight away and he forgot all about it. No dramas at all.
Good luck with whatever you choose to do! :)

[Sarie]

We had our boys done in Brisbane. It was around $300 and we got about $80 back from medicare.
From what I remember they will do them from about 12 months under a general.
Our boys were done at around 3 months and were fine, no probs during procedure or after. We timed it with a feed and cuddle and they were fine.
Sorry I can't help you with a Sydney doctor either!
Good luck!

[becca74]

The other thing when you have one done on an older child it means they often have to stay in hospital for a few days & lay naked from the waist down which for me made me a little worried about them remembering this. Plus the risk from the anaesthetic is always a worry to look at.
Good luck i hope you find the answers your looking for :)

My sons (5 & 3) were in and out the same day....we left the hospital about 3 hours after the circs (and they were jumping up and down on the trampoline when we got home ;) ). The anaesthetic did have a crazy effect on their brains, but after a good sleep it wore off, and as I said, they were jumping about as though nothing had happened (ie, when it was out of sight, it was totally out of their mind).

The cost for us was free on medicare though, because of the medical need....

My husband though (who chose to have his done in sympathy with his sons who needed it - isnt he just gorgeous!), stayed overnight, and though he wasnt supposed to drive home, he insisted and did without any trouble......in fact I think it was more difficult for him to recover at age 41 than for my kids who healled up nice and quickly.....We also had family arrive for a holiday from the UK the day after he came home, and he actually managed to conceal from them the fact that anything had been done to him! His was quite expensive, he had it done privately, but I cant remember how much it was anymore.


I am having a Mohel do my next boy at home about a week or so after he is born......my brother is a Jewish convert and has contacts......I have no idea what the costs will be, but I am told it will be 'mates rates' ..... :thumbsup:

[gillianf]

My first boy was circumcised in hospital when he was 2 days old. We were in South Africa then and I was hoping to do the same with my second son, who is due in August. Things work slightly differently here in Australia, so if I have to do it at 3 months (although why they don't just do it soon after birth and get it over with?) I guess we'll just have to do it! We're in Brisbane, so if any of the Brissy mums can recommend a doctor, I'd really appreciate it! :D

TIA!
Gillian

[reAllytee]

Oh Becca that at least puts my mind at ease ! When i heard of older children having to go through it with this sort of after care it stressedme out as i had missed the window but luckily the doctor agreed to it after all.
I had 4 guys i knew through highschool have the procedure done & they were not happy chappies.

[nemosmum]

My husband though (who chose to have his done in sympathy with his sons who needed it - isnt he just gorgeous!),


OMGosh How amazing is your hubby:eek:

Now that is L O V E

[Caitlin's Mum]

My first boy was circumcised in hospital when he was 2 days old. We were in South Africa then and I was hoping to do the same with my second son, who is due in August. Things work slightly differently here in Australia, so if I have to do it at 3 months (although why they don't just do it soon after birth and get it over with?) I guess we'll just have to do it! We're in Brisbane, so if any of the Brissy mums can recommend a doctor, I'd really appreciate it! :D

TIA!
Gillian

Hi Gillian, I've sent you a PM.:)

[becca74]

OMGosh How amazing is your hubby:eek:

Now that is L O V E

He does have his moments :D

[twins+another]

My boys are nearly 13 months and we are looking to get them done. We were told that we HAD to wait until they were over 12 months before anyone would do it in Australia!

Isn't amazing the huge vaiety of information that gets told to different people?

I am also in Sydney (SW) and would love to hear from anyone with prices/reccommendations.

[maad]

I'm in country Victoria and was told we had to wait until he was 6mths old for anaestic finally got him in at 8mths and all was great really healed well and he didn't seem to suffer at all. Albury NSW Hospital and was all covered by Medicare Dr Tracy Merriman she also covers WaggaWagga. Was never told about plastibell and would have preferred this to anaestic. Plastibel needs to be done before 8weeks sooner the better.

[reAllytee]

Sorry i cant help in regards to this as your boys are too old.
They tell you incorrect information in the hopes it puts you off or forget about it.
There is another thread here that has a few details of doctors in Sydney that perform it so maybe you could give them a call as they might not do it but could head you in the right direction.
Good luck.

[hayleylea]

Hi there, i cant remember the exact costs but i think it was $200-$250 and i got around $80 back from medicare. I got DS done when he was 5 weeks old, the doc i got him done at will only do them if they are under 6 weeks and if you dont get it in this time frame will not touch them till after 2! He had a local injection to numb the pain, i stayed with him the whole time and he was fine. We had to wait 20 minutes in the doc surgery so they could keep an eye on the bleeding (which was very minimal anyway).

[Jack-star]

Hi, my DH is circumcised, so wanted to get Jack done as well. Spoke to nurse in hospital, and on Day 4 surgeon came in to speak to us, explained what he would be doing with the Plastibell, took Jack, and was back in 5 minutes. The bell fell off 3 days later, had a check up with the surgeon a few weeks later, and have never had any problems. Cost under $200. We are in Vic, so no luck on recommending docs.

[gillianf]

Hi, my DH is circumcised, so wanted to get Jack done as well. Spoke to nurse in hospital, and on Day 4 surgeon came in to speak to us, explained what he would be doing with the Plastibell, took Jack, and was back in 5 minutes. The bell fell off 3 days later, had a check up with the surgeon a few weeks later, and have never had any problems. Cost under $200. We are in Vic, so no luck on recommending docs.
Gee, I hope it will be that easy here in Brisbane! :)

[sunshiny]

I am from Canada so our costs are different but we paid $150 and had it done at 3 weeks of age. We used a urologist in his office and he used a ring block anaesthesia. I would try to find a doctor that uses the Mogen clamp. I believe it takes a lot less time and is less painful. Good luck.

[redracer]

Would love to hear referrals from all you mums who have had the procedure done in brisbane for I am having problems finding someone to do the procedure, thank you in advance

[samsara]

The thing that's interesting about circumcision is that the jews used to do it on 8 day old child because that was the day that a certain natural pain medication (can't think what it is) was highest in the body so therefore it wouldn't hurt. It is extremely painful to have it done as an adult so defintely best done as a child and from the boys in my family who have had it done, they didn't seem to feel a thing.
Lx

[andrewJ]

http://tvnz.co.nz/view/page/411416/620300

[Tegs]

My son had the chop, and i didnt want it to happen but as my partner had it done when he was little he didnt want his son to ask him why his penis was different to his and thats the only reason i agreed to it.
We found a surgeon at monash medical centre at monash melb, in the jessie mcpheson private part. The initial consult cost was $100 (65 back from medicare) then the surgery cost was nothing. We had to wait untill he was 6mnths old so he could be put to sleep. As the surgery is an elective you would normally have to wait on the list but our surgeon put him on the top of the list at a new hospital in Berwick.

I am use to it now that it is all healed, but i wish it was done straight after the birth. Only jewish doctors do that but the baby feels the pain as they are too youngfor aneisthetic.:o

[iluvmeboyz]

i havent got both of my sons done it was my choice not to but my cousin when he was a baby heamoraged (sp?) alot so that turned me off my friend had twins and she had her son done and it cost her $400 to get it done

[Caitlin's Mum]

Would love to hear referrals from all you mums who have had the procedure done in brisbane for I am having problems finding someone to do the procedure, thank you in advance

Hi redracer, I've Pm'd you with info.:)

[becca74]

The thing that's interesting about circumcision is that the jews used to do it on 8 day old child because that was the day that a certain natural pain medication (can't think what it is) was highest in the body so therefore it wouldn't hurt. It is extremely painful to have it done as an adult so defintely best done as a child and from the boys in my family who have had it done, they didn't seem to feel a thing.
Lx

Also, by the 8th day the babies blood-clotting mechanisms are in full working order. I know they will delay if there are medical issues such as jaundice, and especially hemophilia.

[becca74]

Also, for a Jewish opinion on the effects of circumcision on a newborn, I placed a poll on this Jewish site for their opinions.......

http://forums.torah.org/viewtopic.php?t=1828&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=0

So far, none of these Jewish males feel traumatised in anyway from their circumcisions as newborns :thumbsup:

[andrewJ]

The effects of a needless surgery on a newborn is not measured by the extent to which the adult "feels traumatised".

Asking a group of jews who have signed up and actively participate in forums at Torah.org, whether they are in favor of circumcision, is like going to the Orange Juice Appreciation Society and asking them whether or not they like orange juice.

The same poll given to a group of proud circumcised African women would also show the same result. Humans adapt amazingly well to most situations and circumstances, but why put them in this situation in the first place?

These men that you asked are lucky that they either...
1. are unaware of the lifelong impact that circumcision has. or
2. consider circumcision a necessary, but worthwhile sacrifice to enter into gods covenant.

i.e, whatever they feel, is meaningless to your children.

It is very hard for a man to admit even to himself (let alone you) that removal of part of his penis has in fact done him damage rather than good.
Of course, the majority of men do not acknowledge, feel or admit to feeling traumatised by being circumcised, that was never the point.
The argument seems to be that ignorance is bliss, which i guess is true. But ignorance of this matter is becoming increasingly difficult with each generation that passes.

[Briannabear]

Before I start, can I say that I'm not asking for people's opinions/ reasons on whether to circ or not. I totally respect that everyone has an opinion on this subject, as I do myself, but advice/ opinions on whether to circ or not is NOT what I'm asking for here - I've done plenty of research and soul-searching on that particular argument already......
For the sake of getting some facts in order to resolve this decision with DH, I just need some info on:

how much circumcision surgery costs
how old a child must be before the surgery can be performed WITH anaesthetic
if there are any recommendations for surgeons in Sydney who can perform this procedure.

Come on..... we're getting a bit off track here. Kimba was very clear that she wasnt wanting peoples opinions on this, just some very clear and direct answers to her questions.
There's no need to hijack this thread and turn it into something its not.