To Circumcise or Not?

I have 2 sons who are now 14 and 10. Both are circumsized, no regrets. This was a not an issue for us, we both agreed on this one. We did this for several reasons. Yes, I did want my boys to be same as dad. I did do it for religious reasons. I had never even seen and uncircumsized penis before I gave birth. I did do it for cleanliness. Thank God I did! My sons didn't like to clean it when they were younger and I would've felt weird cleaning it for a preschooler. One of my sons didn't even like to touch it to aim it toward the toilet, when going pee.
This is a personal choice and you yourself will make the right choice for you.
Happy Monday
K.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi Vlery,

It sounds like you have already made your decision, so go for it! I also did lots of researching before my boy was born (he is 8 months now) and found that it doesn't seem to be unusual if the parents don't want to circumcise their sons. AAP does not recommend doing it any more because they came to the conclusion that the possible benefits of the procedure are not significant enough to make it mandatory. You should check AAP website for the details.

Just make sure you let everyone who is going to be with you during the birth know that you don't want it and don't sign the paper. When I ended up in hospital I was asking my midwife to make sure that I was understanding what I was to sign. Nobody can force you doing that.

Best luck to you.

Warmly,

I.

1 mom found this helpful

I would say for the sake of hygiene and also being able to look the same as his brother, I would do it.....I too have a son who is circumcised and I just nursed him right after and he did just fine. Good Luck!!!

1 mom found this helpful

Hi V.,

I have a son 16 months. We chose to circumcise him because my husband was. In researching pros and cons, there was no real reason to do it except that the materials showed the child would be more comfortable looking like his fathers. In your case, you may want to consider it because you have already done your first sons.

The nurses took my son in the hospital and brought him back after it was done. He was sound asleep and had no problem with the healing.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi V.,
I am a first time mom with a son who is now 13 1/2 months old. My husband and I decided to not circumcise him when he was born. We did our research and didn't find any reason that it was a medical must do so we didn't and we are completely happy with our decision. In fact, more parents are choosing not to circumcise these days but many still do. It really is a personal decision. I hope this helps and enjoy your new baby boy!!!!

Sara

1 mom found this helpful

If I were to go back I would have had my son circumcized. He was not and he is now 18 months old. He screams every time I have to pull the fat back so that it can be cleaned. But he's come close to having infections a few times because it's hard for me to listen to him scream every time I do it. I would have rather have listened to him scream the one time. Usually its more that they don't like people messing with them and holding them down.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi V.,
I have a son, who is now 3. I did not want to have him circumcised. My husband is jewish and it was very important to him. We had a homebirth and no intervention in the birth at all, so it was really hard for me to understand. This was one I had to give to my husband and we did decide to do it. We had a bris with all of our family and friends in our home and a mohel. He was surrounded by a lot of love. Although our son was fine, it was not the happiest day of my life. He is a very sensitive child and he does not want anyone to touch his penis at all. So it is very hard to keep clean and he has a lot of rashes. I sometimes wonder if this was because he was circumcised or if he would have had even more problems had we not.

If I had to make the decision on my own, I would not have done it. Ultimately I feel like it is a form of violence.

I wish you strength and clarity in your decision. And a beautiful birth.

1 mom found this helpful

Hi, V.,

I have 4 sons ages 17-14-11-4 all had it done and the older ones say they are glad from them to you: My oldest said Quote; "tell her its better than having to move the skin and clean it that's gross I am so glad you had ours done Mom"

Just thought you might like to have his opinion...also your first son is so the little guy might think he is different later...I say go for it! Its better looking, cleaner,(i had a friend whos son got infected because she didnt realize she was going to have to move the skin to clean under it untill he was about 7 and was sure to do it on his own!)

Just some advice from a mom and her 4 sons (ok 3 the 4 year old was not asked for his opinion yet...lol)

1 mom found this helpful

Hi V.,
I have a 3 year old son and another due October 1st.. I had my first son circumsized and will have my 2nd done also.. I just felt that it would be harder to clean the uncircumsized area- each time they go to the bathroom and you wash them you want to make sure you pull on the skin so there isn't any wetness left behind. Plus I had a friend who didn't circumsize her son and at 3 years old she was debating it because her son was having a lot of urinary tract infections.. Which is something I've heard you don't hear a lot about.. The Dr. told her it may be because he was never circumsized and the area wasn't getting cleaned properly. --On another note.. it never occured to me, or my husband for that matter, to circumsize our son just because the dad was.. I guess that does matter to some people.. It just didn't to us- we just thought that it would be cleaner and maybe safer in the long run.. atleast if you do it as an infant he won't remember.. I've heard of men having problems later in life and needing it done.. That's a scary thought!! Cause when you're older you definately remember that pain!- My husband and I did feel really bad seeing the area after the procedure and my son didn't pee for awhile after and when he finally had to go he did cry- but I think it was for the best. -I hope this helps you out! Congratulations and blessings to your new bundle of joy!!
-M.

1 mom found this helpful

This can be a loaded topic.

::This is frankly just my opinoin, and my husband's first hand experience. I DO NOT want any debate on it. AS if that is the case. Please do not read my response.::

We would be getting our little boy circumsized IF we were having a little boy. We are blessed with another girl. (Poor Hubby, he really wants a boy.)

My husband works in the medical field. He worked in a care home for 5+ years and also at the local hospital for 5+ years. What he's experienced in older men that are not circumsized is that they tend to get infections much more frequently. With age, the foreskin shrinks and can be painful. He's seen many older men who have penial cancer (the ones he's seen have not been circumsized . NOT that he's saying that if you circumsize that it won't happen.) He just sees A LOT of problems around uncircumsized men.

Now like I said, this is our opionion. Please don't debate anything I've said...

1 mom found this helpful

I totally disagree with the women who say that not circumsizing your son is a good choice. My father wasn't circumsized and he had tons of problems with it, from what my mother told me. It is hard to keep it clean. It can also be painful for the boy when it comes time to have intercourse because the skin could rip back. Not to mention the ridicule your son will go through when he gets older. (This is America where it isn't a normal thing to not have it done.) It isn't very nice looking. When he is older, girls may be turned off by it. My little brother wasn't circumsized either (my step mom didn't want to put him through that after just being born, give me a break.) Getting it done now is a good decision. Although he would be able to get it done in the future, it is a very painful procedure. I have a friend who had it done because he kept giving his wife infections (because it was hard to keep clean). He said it was the worst pain he had ever felt. I just had a boy 4 months ago, and there was no question in my mind that it needed to be done. He won't remember it getting done and doctors say they can't even feel it (the nerves down there aren't completely developed yet). However, it is your decision. I just hope you make the right one, for the future of your son. Good luck.

1 mom found this helpful