Trina's post got me thinking as she said she's not getting her DS circ'd and we're not either, I wonderd who elese is circing/leaving intact.

I personally don't feel super strong on the issue, but I just don't want to do a surgery on my newborn that the AAP does not recommend, and I am likely to have a preemie and his circ would require surgery when he is several months old, I have done lots and lots of reaserch on it, and DH decided he didn't want to circ anymore sons of his, and helped to being me on board. Riley and DH are circ'd so this is all new for me, but we're sure we don't want to do it and talked to my OB who does them and said she's not doing nearly as many as she used to. The national average now is 60% of US males are circ'd and 40% are intact, I know intactness (is that a word?!) is on the rise. I was wondering if the average on here matches or is at least close to the national average.

Of course I believe it's a personal decision and whatever you choose is the best for your and your family, lets all be grown ups about this since so many people bicker over their sons genitals

If you still don't know if you want to or not, as a doula, I really do have some good and unbiased info that gives an argument on BOTH sides, and possible reasons why or why not parents would choose one or the other.

Here is good statistics (it's not pro or con, just averages)
U.S. Circumcision Statistics

Info on pros and cons (I promise it's unbiased )
Pros and Cons of Circumcision - Newborn Circumcision

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Great post Anna!

When I first found out I was pregnant, DH and I said that if this was a boy we'd have him circumsized, since DH is, but once I found out he is indeed a boy, I did some research on it and since it's not recommended, we have decided to not do it. DH is still not completely convinced, but I'm working on him...hehhe...

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[center]

No we will not be circ'ing.
Kyne isn't either.

Talon is though (I was young, and un-informed).

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Dh and I chose to circ our 1st DS and this little boy will also be circ'd. We have done a lot of research, and feel comfortable with our decision to do so.

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My stepson is circumcised (my husband and his first wife were very young when he was born 13 years ago - my husband regrets it terribly). My seven year old is not circumcised. I researched it while pregnant for him to the point of becoming the director for nocirc in my area during that time period. I developed very strong feelings against doing it. My husband is also against doing it, so our newest little boy will also remain intact.

Our 13 year old, who was circumcised at birth, is the one we have had the most problems with UTI's. Matthew, my seven year old, has never had an issue with his penis and never had a UTI.

One thing I do recommend for mom's opting not to do it is to look into the care of the intact penis. Don't let anyone push you into attempting to retract his foreskin. It's not necessary and can cause harm if forced or prematurely retracted. Matthew is not yet fully retractable at seven - which is perfectly normal.

However, those moms looking to circumcise, please keep in mind circumcisions are done much looser now so you more than likely will need to push back the remaining skin to prevent adhesions.

So, things are quite opposite of what the "old school" thinking once was. No circumcising - no retracting. Circumcising - you need to retract the remaining skin.

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Elizabeth (31)
DH Nicholas (34)

Yes, I left it up to DH and he wants it done. I don't really have a huge care either way. But, in our area, I don't know a single person who hasn't circ. their little boy. Must be a regional thing.

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+++ Jennifer
dh Richard
dd#1 Reese 5 yr
dd#2 Sarah 3 yr
ds Vince -- the newest member of the family!

I "thought" I had this all figured out and even voted already. BUT after reading everyone replies and thinking about it. Im not so sure anymore. I voted to have it done, but really dont know why other then I dont want him to feel like he is any different then his dad and other 2 brothers. But really am not so sure that is a good reason to make him go through that now. I am going to have to talk to DH next time I get the chance and see what he wants and if he really doesnt care then I think I am actualy NOT going to do it!

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~Ronnie & Jay ......... waiting for Jaysen
DD's Brooke 15 & Billie 8
DS's Randy 6 & William 3

Since I have a circ'd DH and DS I can totally relate...we're going to tell him when and if he ever asks or notices he's different, we're going to tell him the truth that we spared him a cosmetic surgery that used to be recommended and was not when he was born and we're also going to say "everyone is different in every way, some look like daddy's and some look like yours" and now according to the national averages, your son will NOT have the "locker room" issue since 40% (and this is on the rise) of newborns are intact now. If he ever decides to have it done, we have decided that we will fully support him, and pay for it.

However what I didn't know (before reaserch) is that an infant males foreskin is fused and attached to the head of the penis, so when they circumcise they pull/separate the head of the penis from the foreskin then they cut (of course they use Emla cream to numb)...when an adult male gets circ'd his foreskin naturally retracts so he's ONLY getting cut vs. a baby who gets it pulled apart (like a finger nail getting pulled from your finger) and cut. So I believe if he gets it done as an older boy or adult (no matter what anyone tells me) I feel it will be easier and the proper pain meds can be given before and after. Also I learned that 20,000 nerve endings get cut during a circ taking away a lot of pleasure.

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I'm not.
The funny thing is, DH is not circumsized (not very popular in Japan), but he thinks it's not a bad idea to do so.

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Just one bit of information for those that will be circumcising. EMLA cream is not the recommended pain relief for the procedure. It was created for things like IV sticks for children in the hospital. The foreskin is a double layer of skin, which EMLA simply can't penetrate fully to be effective for the surgery.

The recommended pain relief is a DPNB which is a series of shots at the base of the penis. I can see EMLA being used for the shots as an additional buffer for the pain at the injection site - but the nerve block is the most effective for the surgery itself.

Please keep in mind that over 40% of OB/GYN's that perform circumcision say they use nothing - and the majority of babies are circumcised by OB/GYN's so it stands to reason there is still a fairly large number of babies undergoing this procedure with no pain relief. It is an extremely painful procedure, so stick to your guns mommas and make sure the doctor doing this will use effective pain management (the DPNB).

Good luck with your decisions!

(Anna, I hope you don't take offense to my post about EMLA. I just saw it mentioned and wanted to add the information about it's effectiveness. You are correct that it currently is used during the procedure, sometimes it's the only thing used.)

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Elizabeth (31)
DH Nicholas (34)