Getting the snip

Katherine - posted on 03/16/2011

Your articles on circumcision reducing the risk of HIV transmission are based on an old (they all are from 2006, or thereabouts), and debunked study. It can actually increase the risks for women. Condoms, and teaching our kids about STDs prevents HIV transmission.

http://www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.o...

http://www.intactamerica.org/dangerousmi...

Community - posted on 03/16/2011

Ladies, please remember that we're here to support each other and offer advice, not to berate or put anyone down. If this conversation continues the way it's going, the thread will be shut down.

Thank you for your cooperation.

The Circle of Moms Team

Kendall - posted on 03/16/2011

http://www.planningfamily.com/newborn/ci...
http://www.circleofmoms.com/track_link.p...

http://www.modern-psychiatry.com/circumc...
http://www.circinfo.com/parents_guide/gf...

STD's
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseac...

http://www.physorg.com/news86339340.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15593753/
Sexual effects/sensitivity
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5B...
http://www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/news/?Item...
http://discusshiv.com/tag/orgasm/
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2007/07/2...
http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-Circumcisi...
Cervical Cancer:
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/fi...
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story...
trends:
http://www.jurology.com/article/PIIS0022...
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health...
Discussion groups:
http://www.circleofmoms.com/circumcised-...
http://www.cafemom.com/group/13109
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ppn...
Even the World Health Organization is recommending it now:
http://www.who.int/hiv/mediacentre/news6...
http://www.who.int/entity/hiv/mediacentr...
As well as the CDC:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/...

Mabel - posted on 03/16/2011

www.intactamerica.org/resources/decision
www.netdoctor.co.uk/menshealth/facts/circumcision.htm
www.disabled-world.com/artman/.../circumcised-penis.shtml
www.naturalfamilyonline.com/go/index.php/.../12-no-to-circumcision -
www.noharmm.org/advantage.htm
www.mothersagainstcirc.org/ -

Need more reasons I have plenty...

Nicole - posted on 03/16/2011

im sorry i follow procedure. procedure is we are not allowed to give a chld a thermonitor or take a temp reading unless they are vomiting or couching so bad they are . almost hacking up a lung. remember people are from different areas and here i could lose my job . we are not alowed to treat diagnose problems now if you know the parents and feel you can talk to them on personal issues and them not go off the handle then yes you can suggest theyere may be a problem. but other then that no sorry i would lose my job if i out right go to the parent and tell them you need to take your son to the doctor. he looks yellow and has been sluggish. now if the child repeatedly reports pain i have to go to the director and tell them he has pain and that is left to the directors discretion to make a report and hand it to the parent upon pick up. that is how our facility works.

and i do not see why you are getting hostile over kids that are not your own. im saying its parental neglect for not seeking medical care should abnormal behavior arises like yellowing of the skin pain, sluggish behavior when your child is normally bouncy, those are key signs and most parents blow it right over. im not saying you need medical care i am saying the boys who have had it done and they die from it. you know infecion takes tie to fester and shows physical signs and so you know if those signs are ignored thats when babies start dying so like i said parental neglect and meical malpractice. same wiht non snipped peniss'. should infection arise and you dont take a good look during a nappy change or think it will pass that neglect on your part and your son can be hospitalized for it to so you know this door swings both ways your damned if you do and your damned if you dont and frankly i agree with kendall. if you can not pull up studies to show why its better left alone dont force it on other people it is not your right to tell others what to do or dont do .

btw a really nice lady sent these to me and much thanks to her cause i was only going to post a small hand full .you want studies on why here you go.
general health:
http://www.planningfamily.com/newborn/ci...
http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles...

http://www.modern-psychiatry.com/circumc...
http://www.circinfo.com/parents_guide/gf...

STD's
http://vids.myspace.com/index.cfm?fuseac...

http://www.physorg.com/news86339340.html
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/15593753/
Sexual effects/sensitivity
http://www.reuters.com/article/idUSTRE5B...
http://www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/news/?Item...
http://discusshiv.com/tag/orgasm/
http://www.cbc.ca/health/story/2007/07/2...
http://ezinearticles.com/?Why-Circumcisi...
Cervical Cancer:
http://www.consumeraffairs.com/news04/fi...
http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story...
trends:
http://www.jurology.com/article/PIIS0022...
http://health.usnews.com/articles/health...
Discussion groups:
http://www.circleofmoms.com/circumcised-...
http://www.cafemom.com/group/13109
http://messageboards.ivillage.com/iv-ppn...
Even the World Health Organization is recommending it now:
http://www.who.int/hiv/mediacentre/news6...
http://www.who.int/entity/hiv/mediacentr...
As well as the CDC:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/22425001/vp/...

Dawn - posted on 03/16/2011

You go Kendall I agree and for every article against there are articles for. The one article I read was the bible. Not every child will have the same experience and like I already said there are doctors who use the newer method you just have to question it.

Dawn - posted on 03/16/2011

That was not the case in this situation. I have a step son and my husband told me that the band procedure was done to him as well. He had no ill affects he was not cranky and as I said it really a preference. My religion states that the male child should be circumcised shortly after birth. I think anyone debating the issue for their child she just research the procedure and talk to the doctor before abolishing a procedure that has helped other children.
I also believe that for every problem and infant, child, or adult has there are negative affects as well as positive affects. We as parents have to make choices based on the information not just the negative or positive.
I am sorry if anything I said offended anyone that was not my intention. I just wanted to share my experience as well as why chose to circumcise.

Mabel - posted on 03/16/2011

This was written by a mom who didn't do her research and now regrets the decision she made for her son.Tuesday, March 15, 2011
The biggest Regret...
I've put off writing this for SOOOOOO long, and it seems kinda silly that this should be my first post back in a LONG time but, I feel that tonight it is right. I know a few of you are going to support me in this post, a few are going think I'm freaking weird, a few more are going to think I should not be discussing such things in a public forum, some might take it like I'm judging them... but mostly this is not for anyone but me, and my soul, and maybe for Anton when he's older.

I chose to circumcise my son, not knowing anything about foreskin and the functions of it and not even thinking to research this procedure I choose to cut off a piece of my sons organ. The main reason so he didn't get made fun of in the locker room, and because this is what we do in America. I didn't know then that this would turn out to be the single most regret of my life.

When Anton was two weeks old Ivan and I took him to the clinic on base to have him circumcised, we filled out the paperwork and signed the consent forms, which said things like your baby might not want to eat after, might be fussy not sleep well, have some bleeding. And like any person who trusts Dr. explicitly I just didn't think, it was almost like reading your prescription medicine bottle, it can cause dry mouth, anal discharge, loss of vision etc. you just pop the pill in your mouth thinking that your Dr prescribed these for you so their safe. You don't question you just keep your head down and do what you *thought was for the best. We took Anton back to the room where they showed us the board that they strap him down arms and legs, spread eagle of course. Talk a little about the procedure then explain that you should leave the building for 30 min while they circumcise your baby because they are so loud that the parents can hear them in the waiting room and it tends to "upset" the parents. So we hand Anton over to the Dr, walk out and take a walk. While Ivan and I were walking I got the worst sinking feeling in my stomach, I tell Ivan I feel so weird not having Anton in my arms, I feel like he's in danger and I need to go and get him. Ivan tells me everything is ok, and we start to walk back. We come into the waiting room, and he's brought out to us with a pacifier in his mouth, bundled in a blanket. They hand him to me and immediately he starts screaming. I try to soothe him, nothing works, I hand him to Ivan and he quiets down. We are asked to wait for about 10-15 min in the waiting room so that a nurse can check his wound to make sure he's not bleeding too much and to go over how to care for the wound. About every 5 min now Anton bursts into screaming fits... not crying fits mind you SCREAMING fits. He refuses to nurse. They call us back open the diaper, it is red swollen bleeding he's crying again because he's laying down again spread eagle and having ointment put on. We take him home and every diaper change is pain and torture, his open wound is being touched by urine and feces, we try to be as gentle as possible, screams of pain wail out of him and not just at diaper changes. He doesn't want to nurse, or be held by me, he's ok with Ivan but still cried a lot. We both decided that we never want to ever do this again, if we have another boy. Of course the wound "healed" eventually like most wounds do. About six months later I read an article on circumcision, there were quite a number of things that HIT me.

Number one it was a NON MEDICAL procedure... it was essentially COSMETIC surgery. When I read this, my heart sunk... I basically put my child thru hell during the first weeks of his new life here on earth when he was the most dependent and defenseless, he counted on me to protect him and keep him safe from any kind of harm and I did the opposite I sought this COSMETIC surgery, the surgery that has NO medical benefits.

When I saw a picture of a baby in shock from having a circumcision I knew with out a shadow of a doubt that this happened to my son, he went in a calm and happy baby, and came out a baby who had fits of terrorizing screams, a baby who was dependent on a pacifier. He had that same glassy look when I first held him that I recognized in the picture of the baby in shock. Now as a toddler, anytime Anton gets hurt or feels abandoned he holds his breath until he literally convulses and passes out. I thought he had grown out of it as he hadn't done it in a while, but when he had a seizure and had to be taken to the ER and went thru the hole being poked and prodded, I think it set off an alarm in him. Because since we've come home he now passes out at least 2-3 times a week. Which we had it down to maybe once every two weeks. I know this behavior stems from his circumcision where he passed out due to the tremendous pain of having one of the most sensitive body parts literally RIPPED from him. And this is something I CHOSE for him.

There is an ACTUAL purpose for the foreskin!!! It is an amazing and miraculous purpose, it does exactly what God designed it for. Every male mammal was born with a foreskin, it's not useless, it's also not just a piece of skin the clip off. (which is what I thought, I compared it in my head to a skin tag being removed by scissors so NOT the case) The foreskin is FUSED to the glans (head) of the penis, like your finger nail is fused to your finger, in order to remove the foreskin you literally have to RIP it from the glans. Rip it, those words just play over and over in my head... I didn't know at the time that the foreskin is fused to keep out all debris, and to help PREVENT children from getting UTI's and infections as long as the skin is not forcibly retracted ( this is why there is SO much mis information out there, boys were being forcibly retracted, the foreskin pulled back and being ripped from the glans before it naturally retracted which causes a lot of problems such as UTI's and um PAIN!!) In fact little girls are way more likely to get a UTI than an intact boy. But we just treat them with antibiotics. There are A LOT more functions of the foreskin, I encourage you to look them up!! This is just the one that struck me the most!!!

There were warning signs that I just didn't see until 6 months later when I had clarity... I had a friend and we were both having boys and she said she was leaving her son intact. Why didn't I ask why? Why didn't I ask my German pediatrician why they didn't circumcise in Europe? Why would I even think it's ok to take a newborn who likes to be bundled and swaddled and held and strap him down spread eagle? Right there that is the most unnatural thing for a baby who has just spent 10 months warm and cozy inside his mommy, and now his arms and legs are being strapped down? When a consent form says it's normal for a baby, a 2 week old baby mind you, to not want to eat you have to ask yourself WHY?? Why is this normal, what is making a baby who usually wants to eat every 30 min or so, not want to eat at all?? Why is it ok for a baby to have problems sleeping after the procedure? Why did I not wonder why they had given my son a pacifier, how much pain was he in that they decided to stick something in his mouth to suck on to help alleviate it and WHY WHY WHY is this OK. Why did I not question any of those things? Why did I not listen to that voice that was telling me that my baby was NOT OK? Why didn't I listen to my motherly instinct? I had little nudges here and there, small hints left for me to ask why, and find the answers BEFORE anything ever happened but I failed to heed those little nudges and hear those little murmurings of motherly love that told me my baby was being harmed. WHY?? Why did I take this perfect little human, someone whom God entrusted with me to protect and love and cherish ALWAYS. God gave him to me perfect, in his image and I forever altered him. I'm sorry, so so so sorry.

A lot of people won't ever understand where I'm coming from, and I honestly hope they NEVER have to understand where I'm coming from. Sometimes I very selfishly wish I could go back to those first 6 months when I didn't realize what horror I inflicted upon my perfect little guy, but I know that I can't. I think about this at least every day. Yes I can laugh and go on play dates, but when I hear of a friend or family member that is having a boy all I can think about is helping or saving that boy, because I didn't protect my son and I feel like I have to atone for that horrible mistake I freely choose to make, for another human being. A choice I had no right to make. Nothing anything anybody says will make it go away or hurt less, I fear the day that I have to sit Anton down and tell him what we choose to do to him, and the frivolous reason why. All I can hope is that he realizes that I do love him and I am more truly sorry than I have ever been of anything in my entire life, and that I hope one day he will forgive me. I can't be silent, I'm not trying to step on anyone I'm not trying to stick my nose in, I'm just trying to atone for the mistake that keeps me up at night and wakes me up with bad dreams. I would feel sick if someone I know ever went through this, and I had a chance to say or share with them and I didn't because of fear, fear of not being liked or loved or thought of as a good patient, the same fear that lead me to not question WHY and that ultimately lead me to circumcise my son.

So I hope this is coherent as it is very late for me anyway. I just couldn't sleep until I wrote some of this down... I know there will be more over the next few years as I sort thru my feelings and as I purge other feelings and thoughts, just a warning I guess, that this isn't the last post.

Please if your having a boy, please please do your research... a great website is DrMomma.org

Kendall - posted on 03/16/2011

Actually, it's not a waste of time. You seem to get pretty angry about people wanting to get their kids snipped. If you have information to share, that's one thiing, if you are trying to push this stuff onto other people, that's another. It's definately not a waste of my time. I just think you're being really preechy about this whole thing. I didn't get on here to blow air up people's asses. I gave my opinion and then was yelled at for continuing to do so. What do you care if I keep posting about how I plan to get my son snipped?

Mabel - posted on 03/16/2011

Because I feel the need to educate and to show people another way to do something.I don't get on threads just to blow hot air up someones ass for the fun of it .If I have some info or am able to contribute to the topic then I feel like I have done my part on COM. No your not under my skin I just think you like to waste yours and others time...huh?lol

Kendall - posted on 03/16/2011

Why do you? Cause you are trying to convince other people that they shouldn't do it. People are allowed to make up their own minds. STOP pushing people. I am simply stating that I am making my own choice, why do you care if I keep coming back?

Oh, and another reason I keep coming back is to get under people's skin. Guess it worked, huh? lol

Kendall - posted on 03/16/2011

Still having my son snipped. My child, my choice. That's it. That's all.

Charlie - posted on 03/15/2011

Woops Katherin that's what I meant , thanks for catching that :D

Absolutely men lose more nerve endings that is a fact the sad thing is men who are circed from birth will never know the loss which is why restoration ( even though it only restores SOME of the foreskin ) is such big buisness these days .

Katherine - posted on 03/15/2011

Loureen, actually, the male loses MORE specialized nerve endings during a circumcision than a female does. Not all female mutilations are considered equal.

I saw someone earlier mention that women lost whole parts of their anatomy during female circumcision. Actually, there are many different kinds, and things like removing the clitoral hood are MUCH different than clitoridectomies, or infibulation. Do you think people would be comfortable with parents choosing to have hood removals done on their daughters if they were performed in hospitals by trained doctors or interns, rather than by untrained people in unsanitary conditions? I mean, if parents could get a girl circumcised in a hospital, it's their choice, right? They were never raised knowing how to clean an uncircumcised girl. Plus, it's much more sanitary that way, at least to their way of thinking.

Also, the foreskin plays an important part in intercourse. It makes it much gentler on the vagina during sex, and enhances the man's pleasure, because he has so many more nerve endings present to experience it with. It also allows a man to hold an erection longer, which is nice. ;)

Charlie - posted on 03/15/2011

It's a human rights issue that's why , it's not YOUR penis that's why , there are no REAL medical benefits thats why , it is a fully functional part of their sexual anatomy that carries consequences when removed , it is cosmetic surgery performed without the owner of the body's consent to permanantly alter their body that is why .

The sad thing is if it were a girl we were discussing everyone would be jumping up and down with outrage , it's a shame young boys are treated as second class , they are humans with rights .



Your rights end where theirs begin's ......





And Nicole , Im sorry I have no idea what you are talking about .



Why does my son need medical care ? how is this related to this topic , please clarify as far as myself , my doctor and my midwife know my intact son is complete health and wellbeing .



As for it's relation to female mutilation ( nice choice of words ) your right , the fact is males lose far MORE specialised tissue and nerve endings than girls in circumcision .



It's funny how America clings to these archaic ideas of circumcision when Majority of the world has progressed past it , moved forward with up to date information ..... The difference is every other countries healthcare system has universal health care whereas America thrives on the dollars paid by the individual ...... makes you wonder , what is the real motive .



No neglect doesn't play a huge part ....... malpractice ? in some cases the fact is complications are not rare , they do happen and it is because of Unnecessary routine circumcision ...... the key word being *Unnecessary* .



Im not sure where you are from but in my pre school we are not only allowed to advise parents to seek medical advice we can also be charged with neglect if we ignore serious medical conditions still this has very little to do with the topic unless you wish to clarify and give an example of how it is relatable .

Kendall - posted on 03/15/2011

Oh, and I don't breastfeed and I am having another c-section. Does that piss people off too? It sure seems to. Again, UP TO THE PARENTS WHAT THEY DO!

Kendall - posted on 03/15/2011

I am not saying that 200 isn't a huge number. I am simply saying that many more children have survived the surgery. Also, IT'S STILL UP TO THE PARENTS WHAT THEY DECIDE TO DO! Honestly, why do you get so pissed when people choose this for their son? It's not your kid, why do you care what other parents do? I don't go around telling people they should circ their kids, please don't tell me not to circ mine.

I am still having him done when he's born. Just sayin'

Nicole - posted on 03/14/2011

im saying are you that bad of a parent to NOT notice when to take your son for medical care??

what about the millions that are fine? obviously there are two arguments to this and pending who funds what study will show you what you want to see. want one that is pro circumcision it will give you every reason as to do it want one that is against it will give you every reason not to. both can be found via internet . there is no study out there that say it is 100% bad . nor is it related to female mutiliation. and obviously you did not understand why i posted about the statistics or my motive for posting the study of the strollers. like i said parental neglect and malpractice plays a big role in those deaths.

i have had a parent in my day care lose their child to such neglect. they didnt know it was a warning sign and didnt take their son to get help they thought what ever it was would pass. being a daycare provider we are not allowed to suggest seeking medical care unless child is hurt on site nor are we allowed to "diagnosed" but if he had been my child he would have seen a doctor much sooner.

Charlie - posted on 03/14/2011

Are you saying the 200 dead a year from cosmetic surgery (circumcision ) is worth it because others survived an unnecessary procedure ?
Do you find this number trivial ?
As long as your's survive it's ok ?

Just curious .

If people are that keen to cosmetically alter their penis let them have that choice to do so as an informed adult , let them have their human rights to choice over body .

Mabel - posted on 03/14/2011

Are you willing to take the chance it could be your son who is the one in a million who won't.I 'm not that brave where my kid is concerned especially considering it is a COSMETIC procedure that is not necessary.

Kendall - posted on 03/14/2011

How about the other millions of boys that DON'T die?

Charlie - posted on 03/14/2011

Your building straw men to argue with though the fact is over 200 babies die a year in the US alone IS NOT a small number and it has nothing to do with four children passing away from faulty strollers , it is not about neglect it is about the dangers , the very real dangers a baby is placed in for this cosmetic procedure , yes it is a horror story but it is also reality , ignorance is ignoring the facts like ignoring the fact a large sum of babies die every year from RIC .

Nicole - posted on 03/12/2011

you all need to stop scaring parents out there and let them make up their own minds and not bash others for the decisions they make. if they want to circumcise and neglect the care instructions and get their baby sick that is on them. if you choose not to and dont clean your baby good enough that is on you. baby powder fyi cause infections on baby boys cause you can't pull back the skin to clean at early ages. so if your using that then you are not taking proper care. just some food for thought. people need to stop bashing others and telling horror stories cause they think it will get their opinon swayed and won

Nicole - posted on 03/12/2011

look people we all know som eone and it can be your brother an ex or your cousins siters friend and her brothers cousin 2x removed...ok.

point in the matter is it is rare yes bad things can happen. if you got a bleeder. sure bad things can happen do you know your two day old son is a bleeder , no.



that is like saying i am goign to toss out my brand new 200 dollar stroller cause the try table was too low and it was a lap belt harness and not a 5 point cause some study showed that 4 babies died and 15 others were injured.,..and yes im talking about the older Graco travel systems. ( now think of the MILLIONS sold)



ONLY IGNORANT parents that do not watch their kids suffer from these RARE events. i used that stroller for 1 year before i knew it was on recall. did i have a problem wiht my daughter falling and choking to her death NO. parents that do not sense a problem right away or are more neglegent to their baby's behavior are the ones that have these issues plain and simple. your baby isnt acting right??? dont wait and see if he looks better a day or three days later call the freaking peditrician that night and ask questions. if they think they need to take a look they will tell you so. and if you KNOW there is an issue do not take no for an answer. i called 4 different doctors to have my child looked at . no one wanted to believe me she was sick. and she had bronchitis with fever of 101.2 for over a week straight at 4 months old. if your son is acting sleeppy and lethargic and has tons of blood in his diaper and it looks funny to you call untill you get a doc that listens. they are employed by you ! you can fire a doctor at will and get another.



so to say that a baby boy got refused health care and died is a shame the parent needed to find a better doctor and that IS malpractice. they give you a slip of things to watch out for after a circumcision on discharge papers things like redness swelling looking yellow. baby looking yellow, how to clean and to keep vasaline on it. all this was on my discharge papers though i had a girl. just it was not checked off for me to follow.. if at that point it is parental negligence or doctor malpractice.

Charlie - posted on 03/12/2011

Because doctors are reluctant to perform unnecisary cosmetic surgery on babies and the fact over 200 babies a year in the US alone die from circumcision makes it not an easy thing for doctors to WANT to do .

Little boys are born perfect leave them intact , if in the future they want comsetic surgery they can choose to as an informed adult , respect their rights to bodily integrity and give them a choice especially considering the suppossed health benefits have been debunked over and over which is why 85 % of the worlds male population is intact .

By the way Dawn when a baby goes quiet during the procedure brain scans on babies show it is the baby going into semi concious state through massive shock .

Dawn - posted on 03/12/2011

Wow this topic hit some people on a personal level. I have three boys all older now and we chose to circumcise as it is part of our religion. Not everything is for a medical reason. I also have a nephew and my sister chose not to. being her first child he had infections often. I don't think that either way is wrong it is up to the parents or they can leave it up to the child. However I have been told there are many ways this procedure is being done and the newest is not painful at all. They place a ring around it much like a puppy get his tail docked my friend said her son did not even cry when it was done.

Melinda - posted on 03/11/2011

We got our son circumcised. He was a few weeks old because they had to wait till he was out of the NICU. It was painful for him. If you are going to get it done it should be as young as possible. You don't want them remembering something like that. If you are concerned about getting it done, get all the facts from the doctor. It is something that must be decided by you and your husband. It can't be made by anyone else. Just like Krystyna said no one should be put down because they decided to get it done or decided not to do it.

Michelle - posted on 03/10/2011

Only since several people have asked there are measures being introduced currently in San Francisco http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/11/1... to ban circumcision and there have been measures introduced in other states such as Massachusetts in the past year or two. That's what's going on with that. You can still choose to get it done in most states but people are trying to change that.

Sandra - posted on 03/10/2011

Hello! I have 3 boys, and none of them are circumsized. I think that with proper way of cleaning themselves, they will never have any issues or problems. Also, it is against our religion to circumsize boys (we are christian orthodox). My husband says that men that are not circumsized have a better sexual experience because they are more sensitive from being covered by the foreskin. All in all, I think that it is wrong cutting something out we were born with. It is there to serve a purpose of protecting the penis.

Victoria - posted on 03/10/2011

Oh, and it is not as bad as you think. Apparently, it is MUCH worse for an adult male to get it done. My second son we had done the day after he was born, and he took it better than my first who was done weeks later.

Victoria - posted on 03/10/2011

Where are you from? Of course you can get them circumsized. I have 2 boys and they both are - totally my husbands decision but I am ok with it. While you it is ok to not get them done, I have a nurse friend who has seen many OLD, sick men with infections since they can't clean themselves at that stage. That was enough for me to have my sons done.

Krystyna - posted on 03/10/2011

It is a very personal decision and everyone has to research, ponder upon and live with whatever decision they make for their baby. We should all be respectful of everyone else's decision and not judge.

My husband is NOT circumcised, and neither are my 2 boys. It was never even a consideration for us. My husband has grown up with absolutely no problems, and he has been teaching the boys proper hygene when washing themselves. Boys will never ever have infections or problems if they use proper hygenic practices in keeping themselves clean. Its that simple.

My personal belief is that boys are born with that foreskin for a very good reason and the body was designed to develop as such in the womb. Someone along the way decided it wasn't needed for whatever reasons, so everyone started cutting it off, and getting everyone else to believe/do the same.

I personally would never subject my newborn son to any such methods of cruel and unnecessary pain. To me, it's unnecessary genital mutilation, no matter how you try to sugar coat the definition.

Ultimately, whatever you decide for your baby, you have to live with that decision.

Heather - posted on 03/10/2011

Wow, there seems to be a lot of anger and hatred going on here. This is a very personal decision that is left up to the parents to decide what they think is better for their child. Some parents do not agree with circumcision, and some do. I have a 2 year old, and he was circumsized the day after he was born, for several reasons that my husband and I both believe that it should be done. As for the numbers of circumcisions going down, I personally believe a part of that is because medicaid is not paying for it anymore(atleast they werent in the state where I had my son). We had to pay $200 out of pocket to have it done, I felt it was worth it to pay, but some parents just do not have the money to pay for an extra medical service, whether they want it done or not. Not saying that is the main reason why the stats or so much different, butI believe that plays a big role in why they are, because they had just changed it not too long before I became pregnant with my son. As for pushing our own personal beliefs down this mothers throat for asking a question, I believe is completely wrong@!!!! Express what you feel about the situation, what you think, your beliefs, and leave it at that. Dont sit here and try to make her feel like a horrible mother for making a decision that is hers to make!!! That first video posted in the comments, is way off subject, it was a little girl, in a second world country, with no anesthetics, no sterilization, and she was atleast a year old, almost two! That video has no relevance to this conversation other than its hindrance to make this mother feel bad for her decision! I admit, it is something horrible to watch and think that it is done every day to little girls, but it is completely different than a circumcision done in a professional and medical setting!

Kendall - posted on 03/10/2011

Thanks for the info, but I am guessing situations like that are pretty rare. I still plan on getting my son snipped because it's my kid, and my choice.

Mabel - posted on 03/09/2011

Just learned that another baby died from post-op hemorrhage (circumcision surgery) yesterday. His mother took him to the ER for bleeding from the amputation site. They told her bleeding was common. He died later that night. A newborn baby can die from just 2.3 ounces of blood loss. Do not subject your perfectly made baby to such awful, needless, risky genital cutting.
http://www.drmomma.org/2010/05/death-fro...

Erin - posted on 03/09/2011

thanks for all you advice/thourghts on this topic i agree will allof you in some little way i think it should be up to the parents and for those parents that want it done have the job in looking after the kid and the needs it will have in the following days and for the parents in which dont want it dont have the right not to and have the job in teaching the kids to clean himself which is not a big deal that is just a part of life

Raychel - posted on 03/09/2011

When they did my son they used a platiebell(sp?) it is a little plastic ring they put on and rolled his skin back on it. There was no knive or horrible bleeding or anything like that. I'm sure it hurt but when we cleaned it he never cried or anything. He got it done because he's dad is and we didn't want him to have to do it when he was older if he wanted. I think it's the parents choice.

Nicole - posted on 03/09/2011

my SO is Circumcised my last ex was not. and truthfully. it does not bother me either way. i will admit though that my SO is cleaner in that area. my ex ...not so much. if that is a bit tmi i am sorry. but personally i thought about not having it done if my daughter turned out to be a son. but then my SO told me he would opt to snip the foreskin if we did have a boy. it started a debate but now that i look upon it i really think that is a decision that should be left to the father. i mean both my SO and ex were not affect badly cause of the to snip or not to decisions. they both were healthy and their members didn't fall off and frankly i feel its best done at birth i mean hell we don't remember teething for reason as we don't remember being born. very tramatic. i don't think i would want to remember my own birth just like i do not think any guy would want to remember getting his foreskin snipped.

seriously what next banning birth all together cause they didnt have a choice to be born or not??? o.0 sometimes things happen and we don't get the choice in the matter. and really any guy would cringe at the thought of getting part of his favorite member snipped. even ones that are already circumcised. so really if you deiced to do them a favor do it at birth.

besides you can teach a guy how to wash properly and you can lead a horse to water but you cant make it drink. just saying cause my SO is alot cleaner then my ex. not all guys are like omg shower. some guys for a day wiht out bathing. and put it this way go run two miles sweat really bad then stick your finger in your innie belly button and smell. gross but still same concept with the foreskin. it stays fresher longer between showers.

but seriously to each their own. i think its a personal choice and that no one has the right to slander those that lean either way on their decision.

Amber - posted on 03/09/2011

my dr snipped my son when he was maybe 24 hours old.. he said the best time to do it is before hes 10 days old. yes it hurts but they have a better pain tollarence(sp) when they are still little and they don't remember as compared to age 3 or so..

Kelsea - posted on 03/09/2011

I had my son in September of 2010 and we had him curcumsized the day after I delivered him... I guess it depends on the pediatrician or hospital? If you want it done, I'd suggest looking into another doctor or hospital. =] Best of luck!

Charlotte - posted on 03/09/2011

Snip or no snip it doesn't make a difference from a medical point of view. Hygene is what makes the difference. I couldn't imagine getting my son circumcised! I also find circumcised men are a real turn-off! It's just not natural!

Katherine - posted on 03/09/2011

They are trying to get it banned in California because it's so invasive. It should be a choice not something just done routinely IMO. It IS painful and just because they don't remember doesn't make it any better.

http://www.thecaseagainstcircumcision.co...

These are just some articles showing that there is no reason to circ.

Cindy - posted on 03/09/2011

Where are you that you cant get your son circumsized? All 3 of my sons are circumsized & doing just fine.

Melissa - posted on 03/09/2011

My son was born in 2008, I had him circumcised as a NB as personal choice for his father & myself. The males in both our families are circumcised & as a women of a family of males who are, I admit do not know how to clean an uncircumcised penis correctly so this was an option for me to be able to clean my son properly. Although we did not choose to have him done for cleanliness reasons, it was a personal choice that EVERY parent should make for themselves providing they do research and know exactly how it is done & what risks can occur during the process. No other parent should judge another for their decision about whether or not they have their son circumcised. It is a choice for the family & the family only.

Kendall - posted on 03/08/2011

I don't understand why people get so upset about this. If you decide to do it, fine, if not, fine. What do you care if someone else decides this for their child? Or doesn't? Seriously, who cares??

Kelly - posted on 03/07/2011

I don't criticize anyone for choosing against circumcision, but I have two teenage sons and a husband, all circumcised, and I promise you they don't remember the pain and they are most definitely not damaged for life! From a biblical standpoint, the Israelites were required to be circumcised, and many of the requirements placed on them in the bible were for health/cleanliness reasons, so I have always believed there was truth to the idea that it (circumcision) prevents infections/problems later in life. This certainly may not be true, but it seems to have taken a long time to determine this if that is the case. If you wish this to be done, I hope you find a way; it seems wrong for the government to make this decision for the parents, if that is the case.

Stephanie - posted on 03/07/2011

my son was circumsized in the hospital. they brought the issue up to me b4 i even asked ab it

Nikkole - posted on 03/07/2011

I didn't think it was illegal either. I had my son done if i knew what i know now i probably wound't have had him done, my husband isn't circumcised and he has NEVER had any problems and hes very clean. I think its a choice and as a parent you still have a right to decide what is best.

Kristy - posted on 03/07/2011

Im not sure where you live or where you had your baby, but I dont believe they have made it "illegal" in the U.S. the decision to have your son circumcised is a choice up to you and the childs father.

Mabel - posted on 03/07/2011

Look people I posted the wrong damn link on the first one OK?! JESUS CHRIST!