How many of you that are having boys are planning on circumcision?

[valleybabes]

The reason I ask is because I never had circumcision done on my son when he was born. My doc back then over 20 years ago said it was perfectly fine if I kept it clean.  Well I have been told by parents and friends that I should of had it done, but back then I was pretty young and didn't really know the big difference. I've tried to talk to my son about this and he just isn't into that kind of talk....lol   Far as I know my son hasn't had any problems not being circumcised. I do plan on having this baby circumcised just a little nervous on the after care.

[DML100607]

I agree that it really is a personal decision.  Its not wrong to have it done, and its not wrong to not have it done.
We did have our son's done.  My husband stayed with him (I couldn't watch either) and he said they give the baby some sugar water which soothes them and Anthony slept through the whole thing.  The after care was just to put some vaseline on the penis with each diaper change.  After 5 days or so, it was pretty much healed.   So it was pretty uneventful for us.  I don't regret having it done.  My husband was more traumatized by watching the procedure then the baby.  My husband has his done as an infant and I asked him if he remembered any of it or feel's traumatized....his response.."no....good point"  
But again, its a personal decision, and YOUR decision.

[diva_lorri]

hi there -
ultimately it is up to you and your husband what is best for your son. i wish you all the best either way :-) we are fully against it but i dont want to push anything on you - but just share a different perspective.
my husband and i have decided against it for our son (im 6mths preg). my husband was circumscised as a baby and he has had alot of physcological/physical and emotional implacations as a result. particularily in his adult life. it has caused him physical pain and trauma as he feels incomplete and deprived. its something that given the chance to take back he would (if it was indeed his choice but it wasnt). its more he feels that why was it taken? why was it necessary? i suppose its hard to explain unless you fully understand the remifications personally it can have in an unfavourable way. i would suggest probably consider all the facts for and against, maybe do some research (we have some for/against sites providing all this info i can PM you. if you wish i can pass onto you?) and come to the conclusion that is best for you. feel free to ask any questions if you want a different and view. my husband said he's willing to give an against mans perspective. please dont feel obliged or offended just offering a different view. all the best -

lorri

[montie2]

I had Rhett's done at 7 or 8 days old.  It went really smooth and he had not problems.  My older son who is 18 didn't have any problems either. I do have to admit that I couldn't watch.  I made my husband stay in with Rhett while I stayed in the car and sobbed.  But, it all turned out fine.

[Jenny100]

One more thing..this is one of those topics where there are simply no "right" or "wrong" answers. Anyone who chooses TO get their son circumcised is not terrible, and anyone who chooses NOT to have their son circumcised is not terrible either.
We all make the best choices we can with the info we have gathered throughout our lives experiences.

[Jenny100]

Here is another story/opinion; I used to be of the same opinion as TankerChic.I did not have my first son circumcised for the same exact things she said. It makes sense, and I totally agreed with the things she said.

BUT from birth on, my son had an infected penis tip/head. It would NEVER clear up, no matter what we did. Or if it did clear up for a while, it would come right back. His foreskin never retracted well, and our efforts to keep it clean did nothing.Dr. finally said he needed to be circumcised when he was 5. So we had it done, and the infection cleared up and he has been fine ever since.
THEN a few years later, my poor Dad had to get a circumcision when he was in his 50's!!!! For the same reason: re-ocurring infections and blisters.It was extrememly painful and he had a very difficult and long recovery.

SO needless to say, on my next son, I considered the pros and cons very thoroughly. The only con is the pain and crying of the baby for a short time. But if you insist on a local anesthetic before the circ is done, there shouldn't be severe pain, maybe just
discomfort.Yes, it is heartbreaking when they cry. I totally agree and it broke my heart when he was circumcised. I cried with him. Same with my last son.
But because of the horrible experiences in my own life with boys NOT being circumcised, this is the choice I make.

[AshleysMom]

Just go to Google Images and search "uncircumcised penis."  Ironically, a picture of an ant eater appears in the top 20!

Anyway, I do want to stress that this is just my opinion, right or wrong.  

[valleybabes]

Thanks ladies for all your responses on this post!  I sure got a bunch on here  this time...hahaha. I do think its important that its done. I'm not gonna guess that my little one will or wont get some any type of infection. I just don't want to take those chances. I am going to get my BF to read some of these posts because he does strongly believe that it is very necessary to have it done.  Thanks again !

[Brown Eyed Gurl]

I look at if from a spiritul level and personal level.....for spritiul reasons I think it's a necessity and also from family members telling me their personal experiences and I've had more say it's a better thing to have done than not to....plus my DH insists...

[Tennesseegirl]

ok.. Im speaking out of complete ignorance... never had boys.. and really know nothing about it.. but my personal choice would to be get it done.. I had never even seen what it looks like not done.. but the way ashleys mom said it... lol I could only imagin.. btw.. girl you made me laugh when I read your post.

I guess its just what your use to? I had a male dog once.. and when he got excited.. red would come out? sry.. is it the same with men? ugh.. no oral sex for u !!!

Just something to think about with the girlfriend point of view...

please guys... dont hate.. I really dont know and thats just my view. lol I just might look it up to see myself what it looks like.. and to think I had 3 brothers.

[40smama]

I do agree that it's medically unnecessary.  It seems to be more cultural/social than anything.  I remember the nurses bringing ds to me after the procedure and he had cried so hard that he was shaking.  The only thing that made him feel better was to nurse him.  I guess more than anything it's really a personal decision - I really dread this.  Dh feels strongly that it should be done - gawd.  I shouldn't blame it entirely on him however.

[Atlanta Girl]

We did not have Michael circumsized.  I think it is an unecessary procedure and carries some risks.  Enough for us to say no.

[azqtpies]

I had my sons done  he is 19 days old.. but I have had all my boys done and I have known  men that had wished there parents had done it .. so I guess personal opinion.. but I think about how my son will feel , would he be teased , having to keep it clean so forth, If I were a boy i most certainly of wanted my parents to have it done on me.  But my boys did fine it was red for a few days but he seemed to be fine after the first 6 hrs he cried a little on and off, but he healed great. I wish you luck in your decision.

[cpatow]

Side note re: MedHelp's allowing or disallowing of words...

I wrote in another entry about the names Tom, D1ck and Harry. MedHelp didn't like that name and starred it out, yet they let penis go through. I giggled and now I feel sorry for any guy with the name ****. Oops...meant to type D1ck.

Funny :0)

[Tennesseegirl]

valley... what does dh say??? most men want there son the way they are???  
and I thought girls were tough... lol

[babyprayers]

the ladies on here are right on the money, it is NOT medically necessary, and it is a very personal choice, more often women are having it done for cosmetic reasons, basically society dictates what a penis should and should not look like, I am actually very grateful that I did not nor do I have to make that choice now, when In nursing school I watched a baby be circumcised and let me tell you, yikes... I cringed, but again, its a very personal choice, to each his own...  

[pcarsey]

I'm not having Brayden's done. Hannah is correct, it isn't medically necessary and the whole fad went out years ago. Lots more are not having it done then having it done. I had Andrew's done and I was there, they numbed him and everything and he cried til he passed out! THEY DO FEEL IT! Doctor's tell you they don't just so you won't feel guilty. I took Andrew home and the bandage they stuck around it was so tight that it actually had skin healing around it. They had to do some cutting to get it off... more numbing solution but still he felt it. It was AWFUL and I prayed that he would forgive me and that it would heal correctly and felt so flippin bad that I cried and cried! As long as you keep it clean it will be fine. It retracts on it's own and then you just teach them how to clean it.

[AshleysMom]

We're going to do it.

My DH doesn't want his son to have an "Ant Eater."

In addition to the health reasons, we don't want other kids to make fun of him.  Maybe things have changed a lot since I was a kid (long ago I might add), and maybe it's just a California thing, but in highschool all the gals knew which guys had "ant eaters" and were pretty brutal about it.  I've experienced one myself and have to say it wasn't the greatest. Don't ask for details:)

I have to admit that it's a pretty gross procedure and probably  not necessary.  I'm sure we are doing it for all the wrong reasons but I still think he will thank us in the long run...

Anyway, just my opinion.  Hope it's the right one for our son.

[Tanker Chic]

I did not have Jacob circumcised.  It is not medically necessary no matter what anybody tries to tell you.  

I had an infected finger nail one time but didn't decide to cut all my finger nails off.  

I personally would not want anyone cutting any part of my body off.  And besides he was born perfect and didn't require any changing.  

[pertykitty]

man typing with a baby on the boob makes errors like mad!! sorry

[40smama]

My bil developed an infection at 5 years of age - he wasn't circumcised - and it was horrible for him.  My ds was circumcised 23 years ago & while I hated that he went through any kind of pain, I just thought it was better to get it over with at newborn stage as oppose to doing it when the child is more aware of what's going to happen to him.  I plan on having Noah circumcised.  The pediatrician says they apply a local anesthetic one hour before the procedure so it's not nearly as painful as it was many years ago.  Perty's right - it's a personal decision that only your and your dh can make.

[guinness413]

definitely but I am Jewish so we are doing a bris. I had my son circumcised and the obstetrician does it and she did not remove enough from my son so now he has extra foreskin that we are hoping he will grow into

[pertykitty]

the risks of infectioms or worse increase with age.  more are not having it done these days, really YOU and hubby should make that dec not fil, us, lol.  i had my son done, would do another boy as well

[kindergal]

Not sure if I having a boy or two boys..twins!  BUT, I will do circumcision for sure.  I think it is better in the long run....just my opinion!

[Brown Eyed Gurl]

actually my neighbor and my FIL both strongly reccomend it they both didn't have it done and had to later at an older age. Plus my OB say it's really not as painful as you think when you have it done as newborn since all their nerves aren't really working 100% yet....and if done as a new born they won't remember the pain there is.