Post by frecklesnbrains on Feb 6, 2016 13:38:04 GMT -5
Not us. I don't have strong feelings about it but my DH does. Interestingly he is circumcised, but has always thought it was barbaric. I've been thinking about starting this thread too, because I'm curious to hear all the arguments. I hadn't really thought very hard about it before. It always seemed like a personal preference - no right or wrong answer. But I guess as a medical professional I was trained to think of it in that way.
I was just thinking about this today. We are totally undecided because we haven't started looking into it yet. I asked DH his opinion and he basically said, "I am, so yes I guess?" which didn't strike me as a strong opinion either way. The little I've read is similar to what frecklesnbrains said.
Post by Flair Underwood on Feb 6, 2016 13:43:32 GMT -5
That's where we are at too, vivela. I've honestly never seen a non-circumcised penis... But I honestly don't want it to be something he's embarrassed of when that time in life comes along. KWIM?
Post by frecklesnbrains on Feb 6, 2016 13:53:46 GMT -5
I know an uncircumcised penis requires different hygiene, which I honestly need to educate myself about because my DH doesn't know. Any moms here with uncircumcised boys who can weigh in?
That's where we are at too, vivela . I've honestly never seen a non-circumcised penis... But I honestly don't want it to be something he's embarrassed of when that time in life comes along. KWIM?
I figure we all have those awkward things about our bodies that embarrass us at some point, but I think circumcision is becoming less of an automatic thing in the US so I don't worry too much about that part. I just asked DH again and he said he does actually feel pretty strongly about it. I'm not going to stop looking into the pros and cons to ensure we are making an educated decision, but I'm generally inclined to let DH make the call in the end.
I actually know a pair of twin boys who I used to teach who had it done as teenagers (the teachers knew because they were out of school for a bit and the parents though we would all want to know all the details for some reason?) Judging from their apparent discomfort levels, that is a route I would not recommend.
We will. Dh is not and he wants his boys to be. I have no opinion on it, but since dh has a strong opinion I let him make the decision. He held ds's hand when ds had his done and poor ds held his breath and had to get oxygen. There is no way I could've been in there. Dh doesn't want his son to be made fun of for not being circumcised. I always ask if he was as a child and he says no so I'm not sure why he thinks he sons would be made fun of then, but oh well.
I figure we all have those awkward things about our bodies that embarrass us at some point, but I think circumcision is becoming less of an automatic thing in the US so I don't worry too much about that part. I just asked DH again and he said he does actually feel pretty strongly about it. I'm not going to stop looking into the pros and cons to ensure we are making an educated decision, but I'm generally inclined to let DH make the call in the end.
I actually know a pair of twin boys who I used to teach who had it done as teenagers (the teachers knew because they were out of school for a bit and the parents though we would all want to know all the details for some reason?) Judging from their apparent discomfort levels, that is a route I would not recommend.
That is a VERY true point.
And those poor teenagers... Being that age is rough enough as it is without dealing with that!!
I'm not team blue this time, but I was last time. DS is not circumcised. I didn't feel really strongly about it, so I let DH decide. At least so far, it hasn't been a big deal at all. DS is almost 2 and can now retract his own foreskin (which he does all the time while playing with his penis - a favorite activity!!). We wash his penis just like any other body part during his bath. It may or may not be an extra step when he is older and more in charge of his own hygiene, but DH is convinced that even that is crazy talk.
We've gotten a lot of positive feedback from healthcare professionals. We've gotten a few confused looks from family/friends, but I'm not really the kind of person who GAF about other people's opinions, so no issues there.
Post by Flair Underwood on Feb 6, 2016 14:34:28 GMT -5
I have seven tabs open on my browser right now - all about circumcision. I never realized how MUCH of a decline there's been in this practice! My eyes are definitely opening about this topic...
I live in a rather rural, backwards part of the country so I'm sure if I asked our pediatrician they'd push for it completely.
I have seven tabs open on my browser right now - all about circumcision. I never realized how MUCH of a decline there's been in this practice! My eyes are definitely opening about this topic...
I live in a rather rural, backwards part of the country so I'm sure if I asked our pediatrician they'd push for it completely.
Maybe not though. Physicians do their training all over the country. I don't think physicians vary nearly as greatly in different geographical areas as does the general population.
We will, we did it with my son. I left it up to my husband, but I also heard from my friends who are nurses and work on ICU and the step down that they see a lot of bad infections in patients that are uncircumcised and can't care for themselves (old, injured, etc). I'm glad we did it, the procedure was done in the hospital and was quick.
Post by manybellsdown on Feb 6, 2016 16:00:11 GMT -5
I'm leaning toward not doing it based on my (limited) research so far. DH and I have discussed only minimally, to affirm we aren't really sure and need to do more research. I'm not looking forward to making this decision.
My mom was visiting for the past few days and randomly asked me what we were going to do. I said I didn't know and she took it upon herself to give her thoughts. Apparently my dad had to be circumcised at age 29 for a sore, and it was "the worst experience." Also she said she knows a couple of people who required open heart surgery in their old age, and their doctors made them circumcise before the procedure?! I'm curious if that is still a legit practice. I don't think either of these anecdotes would make the decision for me, though she seemed sure they would...
Post by origamimommy on Feb 6, 2016 16:00:57 GMT -5
Ugh I hate this question. I'm on the no side, and our pedi with DS was also a no. Unfortunately, there have been a large number of men (literally 10, all on his dad's side) in DH's family that needed to be circ'd later in life for medical reasons. Our pedi recommended that we do it as a infant, even though he wouldn't normally recommend it as a preventive procedure, because healing from it as an adult is much more painful and offers a higher risk of complications.
This topic is the one reason I was hoping not to have another boy because it seriously stresses me out. I feel like I'm making the wrong decision by doing it, but that I'm making the wrong decision by not. I hate this topic.
Team pink here but I'll through in my 2 cents. If we had a boy we would circumcise mainly because my husband is a strong yes and also Jewish. I said I absolutely would not have a bris (where a Rabi does it at a celebration at 8 days old instead of hospital). My husband was on board with that.
I used to think it would be traumatic for the kid to be the only one in school not circumcised but now it's pretty popular not to do it so I say it won't really matter because it will be an even mix.
Medically my 2 BILs who are both doctors say they would do it for medical reasons (they tell me this not give that recommendation to patients) but I'm sure the cultural aspect of them being Jewish is part of that opinion. I think the true medical risk of infection is low and that wouldn't be my deciding factor.
In the end there is no right or wrong just a preference. All these guys will survive either way. I will say that doing it alter in life is absolutely awful from what I hear and babies that I've seen have never had an issue.
Post by packerfan4life on Feb 6, 2016 16:29:22 GMT -5
Team green here. I honestly don't care either way. H is circumcised. I think he wants us to circ. My Mom will totally judge me (but not her kid = not her choice). I think it's totally a cultural thing. We plan on adopting again (specifically an AA child since DD is Black) and so I do want to look more into circumcision in AA boys. Based on my very limited knowledge I feel like Black boys tend to get circs more often than not. And if that's the case we'll definitely do it for this baby to match a future hypothetical adopted son.
I've seen complications with both kids who were and were not circumcised. So honestly I think you should do whatever your preference is/what you feel more comfortable with.
As for care, you just wash it and leave it alone. Don't pull it back and you won't have any problem.
My oldest was forcibly retracted by a nurse when he was young. Recently we had to use a cream to loosen the skin a bit as a result and everything is fine again.
We had DS done because DH had really wanted it done. I didn't have an opinion about it. After DS was circumcised, I dealt with a lot of criticism and I felt awful about the whole thing. Which I shouldn't have. I wish some people would just mind their own business. I understand why some people want it done and I understand why some people don't. I don't care what other people do. It's a personal preference and some people seem to think that they have control over other people's decisions. We will be getting DS2 done, but I will not be discussing it with anyone.
I'd also like to add that I'm glad that everyone on this board is being mature and respectful about this topic. I've seen some pretty immature and judgemental things regarding both sides of circumcision on TB in the past.
I'm team pink again. However, DH and I discussed this topic a lot before we found out DD1 was a girl. DH is circ - but we would keep a hypothetical son in tact. After research, we both felt like it's an unnecessary and mostly cosmetic procedure. If our son wanted it in the future, we would support that decision and help in whatever way we could to make that happen.
We will. Dh is not and he wants his boys to be. I have no opinion on it, but since dh has a strong opinion I let him make the decision. He held ds's hand when ds had his done and poor ds held his breath and had to get oxygen. There is no way I could've been in there. Dh doesn't want his son to be made fun of for not being circumcised. I always ask if he was as a child and he says no so I'm not sure why he thinks he sons would be made fun of then, but oh well.
This is us too. We obviously didn't have this issue with DD, but we discussed it hypothetically as well as for this LO. I don't feel strongly one way or another but DH does, so I'm letting him make the call. He's is not circ'd but wants any sons to be. Maybe it will be another girl and not an issue. Time will tell I guess and I probably won't worry about it until then.
Post by lakecountrygal on Feb 6, 2016 22:24:44 GMT -5
I let DH decide with DS and he said yes, I plan to do the same with this one (if we have a boy, team green here). I don't question his decision because he has a lot more medical knowledge than I ever will. I know that's a dumb reason but I felt more comfortable with someone who had the most medical knowledge in our family deciding versus trying to do research and get caught up in all the battles/arguments about it.
Team green, here. DH and I haven't discussed this at all yet, and now I'm thinking we should start thinking about it! DH is circed, so I think I'll leave it up to him if he feels strongly one way or the other. Ugh! Another thing to worry about!
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