Advice

[jshaeau]

Hi i was wonder what peoples advice is on circumcision.
I am having a boy and dont know much on the subject so i would really appreciate any advice on it i can get.
Thanks
Sam 24/7/83
Jakada 27/6/00
due 23/7/06

[the_queen]

As I'm sure you realise, this can get to be quite a heated topic. Most of the threads on this issue end up being locked. Have you looked through some of the past threads? Try this one, it has all the relevant information IMO : http://www.bubhub.com.au/community/forums/showthread.php?t=4159

Good luck in making your decision.

As for my personal opinion: I have a 5 week old son, and a nearly-5 year old daughter, and I could never and would never have cosmetic surgery performed on their genitalia.

[reAllytee]

I agree with Queenie this tends to get quite heated so its probably best to have a look through all the threads & come to an informed decision.
Its a personal one that no one can really advise you what is best for you & your baby.
Ive had my son done yes but thats my decison & my DP's which is not for everyone so its really only something you can decide.
Good luck.

[veve]

hi jshaeau

as the other ladies have said .. circumsision is a topic people NEVER agree on ..

why not use the search function (in the purple bar at the top of your screen- its on the right ) and search for previous threads on the topic.. there will be lots of links to websites etc..

ultimately it is YOUR decision.. so do your research and dont let others sway you...

and just a reminder to all hubbers to keep this thread as positive and supportive as possible .. we dont enjoy closing threads- but will do so if this becomes aggressive or arguementative...

thanks
Jenny

[kadownie]

Hi- I have found a lot of useful information on http://mothering.com. When I was pregnant I thought I would have it done, but when my boy was born I decided that I just couldn't. Though my DH is done (sorry TMI). He said he wanted it done so they could be the same- but that wasn't really a good enough reason we decided.

Hope you find the answers you are looking for

[jshaeau]

Thank you everyone. I didnt realise it was such a touchy subject i just thought each to there own.
You have all been so helpful:hugs:

[maverick]

From a male perspective I do not really see a reason to do it these days, decades ago it did serve a purpose due to poor personal hygene standards. Unless of course it is done for a religious reason such as being from the Jewish faith.My theory is leave it up to your son to decide in the future if that is what he wants then let him do it then. It is not something that can be easily undone.

Personally I am happy not being done and thank my lucky stars that my parents did not do it to make me like my dad. This reason really does not hold much weight cause I certainly do not remember at anytime in my youth standing around with my dad comparing anatomy.:D It was actually his idea that I was not done.

[blueeyes]

Hi

It is a very touchy (parden the pun) subject.
However, to add light on the whole arguement, the decision to circ or not to circ was completely taken away as our boy was born with a congenital circumcision. Hasnt he got a story to tell when he gets older.
We were not planning on getting him done but now we dont have a choice!

Good luck in finding an answer!:fingerscrossed:
Mel:thumbsup:

[cheezelkat]

Whatever you choose, make sure you understand both arguments.

I chose not to circumcise Liam as it's a practise that neither my family or DF's believes in. :)

[k15s]

Check out this link

http://www.russellmedical.com.au/

Both my DS done with no pain. Best thing we ever did. Quite pricey though.
The link is for the only guy in Brissy that does it, but also has news articles on benefits etc.

[AdensOldMan]

Interesting topic.

Both my wife and I are discussing circumcising our son.

We never planned to, but after he contracted two urinary tract infections (when he was 2 months --> fever got up to 38, and when he was 8 months --> fever hitting 40+ --> took him to Westmead children's emergency on both occasions, the 2nd time being most traumatic... the doctor in charge couldn't find a vein to inject the antibiotics... after the 5th attempt (baby screaming & crying...so was mum and dad), finally got what the doctor thought was a vein (by this stage, doctor was forced to find a vein in my son's leg)... but found out in the next hour it wasn't vein!! - my son's leg swelled double the size, temperature still 40+ and one very very very angry mum & dad. In the end, son stayed 3 days in hospital under observation...), we're considering it as an option.

Local family doctor advised of a procedure that cleans the bladder (forgot the name atm... involves inserting a tube via the penis and flushing the bladder) and she also mentioned circumcision might be another alternative/safeguard.

Still debating whether we should/shouldn't. Suppose we want to try a 'preventative' measure in case of another infection, rather taking action after another reoccurance...

[angelic]

DH & i would like our son circumcised.. he's due anyday really but EDD is 8/7/06.. anybody know of a doc in Melb who will do it?... no, we're not doing it for religious reasons..cheers!

[zactyl]

Still debating whether we should/shouldn't. Suppose we want to try a 'preventative' measure in case of another infection, rather taking action after another reoccurance...

Sounds like a very distressing experience with your son, glad he came through okay. Be glad he's not a girl, they have 4 times as many UTIs! :eek:
The claim that circumcision reduces the incidence of UTI in boys is flawed, have a read of some of these links:
Google Search Results (http://www.google.com/search?sourceid=navclient&ie=UTF-8&rls=SUNA,SUNA:2006-20,SUNA:en&q=urinary+tract+infections+in+circumcised+boys)

[Milliner]

Personally I could not have done it to my DS, My DP and I spoke about it and it did get a bit heated but each to there own!!

[proudmummyof2]

Everyone is right - it is a very personal decision and no one can tell you what to do. I went through the same dilemma with my son, so I can share that experience with you in case it helps.

Before he was born, we were adament to have him done. After he was born, I decided I just couldn't do it. So we spent 18 months discussing it off and on and decided to do it for a number of reasons that we believe to be valid for us.

It was difficult to cope with - for me, not for my son. I made the decision to be with him when he went to sleep and when he woke up so in his mind I was never gone, which I am glad I did for his sake, but watching him go under was horrific, probably because I was 8 months pregnant and emotional anyway.

Recovery was tricky with creams and gauze and nappies etc, but we got through it and he is extremely proud of his "new" willy!

Talk to your doctor, and if you can afford it, have a consultation with a specialist after he is born, even if you just want to discuss what happens and how and why etc. I can recommend a brilliant lady specialist in Melbourne if anyone wants to know.

Good luck.

[shed]

DP asked if we were going to get it done to bubby and I said "oh, they don't do that anymore" and he goes "oh" and the subject hasn't come up again.

Good luck with your decision.

[semazani]

My boys were circ'd when they were born. I deeply regret the fact that I did. I can never change the damage I inflicted on my boys. I second the recommendation for www.mothering.com (http://www.mothering.com) It has a wealth of information.

[ellysmum]

dp and i had discussed having our son done for the fact that dp had it done but after alot of talking and finding out that it is quite hard to find a doc who would do it these days we decided against it but im sure we would have got it done if we could have found a doc to do it

[AngelHope]

:wave:

I always said that if I had a baby boy I would have him circumcised, because of the horror stories my mother told me about my brother having to be done later in life (because of infection?), and the trouble it caused. And then having to go through it with ex hubby, and the trouble he suffered for having to have it done later in life....

However!! When I had my baby boy, I just couldn't allow it. My gut feeling was to not do it? Can't explain why.

[tkjj]

Yes circumcision is a very heated topic and is really up to the parents. People need to respect the decisions made by others.

My son is 4 months old and we had him circumcised at 3 weeks. I always wanted to get it done. Many friends who hadn't had it done had many infections and ended up getting their kids done later. After speaking to many people I found it is becomming more common now but is not spoken about.

We had our son done by a doctor in Brisbane who conducts approximately 50 circumcisions a week, and this is all he does. It is not the old 'chop' like it used to be, but rather a 'plastibell'. The babies penis has numbing cream applied for 2 hours before the procedure. It then involves the foreskin being pulled over a plastic ring and string tied around this, so there is then no blood flow to the foreskin and no pain felt. Some excess skin is cut off after the procedure but the baby does not feel a thing. It only takes 10 minutes and my son came out asleep and not fazed at all! After the procedure you only need to put betadine ointment on it until the ring falls off (3-7days). My son experienced no pain at all during or after the procedure and was none the wiser. The only time he cried was when his legs were held for the procedure to be done, and no baby likes their legs being held!

Our main reasons were for him to be the same as daddy, cleanliness and a smaller chance of infection (despite what the medical evidence says, after talking to people, there is a smaller risk of infections with an uncircumcised penis). We also ended up needing it done anyway, because our son had a very tight foreskin and it was painful for him to wee as it was coming out 'under pressure', often shooting a metre into the air! After the procedure peeing didn't faze him and is now a little fountain rather than a water pistol.

So for those of you who are considering it, the plastibell is the way to go but I think Brisbane is the only place it is done. Just know that there are other boys out there who are circumcised and not mentally scarred.

For those of you who choose not to get it done then your decision is completely respected. But please do not look down on those that choose to have it done.

All the best in making your own decision.

[andrewJ]

"For those of you who choose not to get it done then your decision is completely respected"

that's because there are a few million decent reasons to "choose not to get it done"

list of decent reasons to choose it;
1.because you have to.

[mumof5boys]

Hi as a MUM of 5 sons I can say that all my boys have been circumcised. My partner had to have it done when he was 8 years old and now thirty years later he can still remember the terror of waking yup with a frame over the bed and busting his stitches open. My father was in his fiftys when he had it done and the pain and embarrasment he felt was not a pretty thing. All my boys where under 2 weeks old when they where done and none of them remember a thing about it . 3 of them had the plasticbell which is very simple and clean ( they didn,t require anything other then a good wash and keeping clean. The other 2 had the traditional method done and the also didn,t require anything other then keeping clean and a bit of friars balsm.) I have no regret for getting it done and they dont know the difference my eldest is now 16 and he has a normal healthy life. I t is very much personal choice but I didnt want to be like my inlaws and have to sit and watch my son go through all the pain and suffering he went though and the emotional scarring he feels for a lifetime

[serendipity22]

The suggestion to look at the websites suggested by the_queen near the top of this thread is a good one. I like http://www.circumstitions.com/Itsaboy.html

Its an unusual topic because neutrality is almost impossible.