At Christmas, my brother and dad argued with me because I don't want to circumsize this baby. Your opinion?

Question

I am pregnant and don't want to circumisize my boy
-it is not natural
-it hurts him and is mean
-I work in a hospital and cleaning them is no big deal, I myself have cleaned many
-as for HIV, condoms and cleaning
-taking off all those nerve endings decreases sexual pleasue as an adult

Those are my reasons

What do you think?

Answer 1

Your reasons are your reasons and whether I agree with them or not is NOT the problem. It is none of their business, unless you want it to be. If you feel compelled to discuss YOUR decision with them, then ALL of YOUR reasons will not matter. And for that matter, ANY problem with your child you may have in the future that you feel you need their opinion on will challenge your opinions. Now do you want that?

You clearly have YOUR OWN opinions, so stick with them, and don't stress yourself out in the future getting their opinions (or anybody elses, fo that matter). If they are the type that don't need special invitation to giving opinions, then do what I have had to do: Say "That is something I will not discuss" Sounds "mean", but with family always under your skin giving opinions that counter yours, don't you think that is the BEST and most PEACEFUL solution?

Answer 2

First, it is your choice as his mother. However, as a mother of four boys, I have circumsized them all. I, too, felt as you do concerning pain, cleaning, etc. All doctors convinced me to circumsize (had 4 different doctors). My boys did receive a shot to numb their genital area before the procedure. As far as cutting the nerve endings and decreasing his sexual pleasure later in life, I have never ever heard of this--I am certain that your dad and brother would have definately considered this fact before standing their ground.

Lastly, I have an aunt who thought along the same lines as you and she didn't have him circumsized at birth. Instead, she had him undergo the procedure when he was about a year old. The surgery did not go well. He had many complications due to the long wait. I am not saying that it cannot be done, because it definately can. All I am saying is to please talk to your O.B. doctor and a pediatrician staffed at the hospital where you'll deliver to look at your options and help you to come to a decision. No matter what... it is your decision to make.

Good luck to you!

Answer 3

You are correct. There is no reason to circumsize a baby in this day and age. (Apart from cultural/religious reasons.) The uncircumcised penis is easy to keep clean and there is NO increased risk of infection (in fact the surgery for circumcision has its own risks!).

I was told by my OB/GYN that circumsizion came about in the western world I believe after WWI, where men were getting infections from laying in the muddy trenches. General hygiene has improved considerably since then!

Keep in mind, too, that most of the rest of the world do NOT routinely circumsize their male babies any more. Stick to your guns, and let your boy make his own choice later on in life - it's his penis!

Answer 4

It's your child - and your decision to make. Circumcision is becoming less the 'thing to do', I think. It's not usually medically necessary. I had always thought if I had a son that I would want him to be the same as his Dad (ie circumcised or not), and thankfully my husband is not, so that makes my decision easier if our baby is a boy! If there are religious reasons your family wants the baby circumcised, they may never change their minds, but hopefully it won't affect how they feel about your son.

Answer 5

It's a personal decision and you definitely have good reasons. I think that you should just do what you know is best for YOUR child it's not your dad's baby or your brother's you shouldn't care what they think. I think you shouldn't circumsize him if I had a boy when I had my daughter I wouldn't have circumsized him either. You shouldn't put pain upon your child that isn't necessary.

Answer 6

My son was circumsized but that was our preference. If you do not want to do it, that is your decision. Who cares what other people think. He is your baby. I did have a friend that did not have the procedure done and when he got older (8-9) he ended up having to have it done due to constant infections and because he couldn't handle being teased by boys at his school. You sound like you know how to care for it and will teach him how to care for it. Just do what you feel is right.

Answer 7

I think that they should let you decide he is your child. You are very right on somethings....Although my cousin wasn't circumcised and by the age of 3 he had to get it done because it was closing on him and it hurt to go to the bathroom. If you keep it clean and make sure that no hair gets wrapped around it then everything will be fine. Remember that this is YOUR child. They may be mad at you for doing it but they will get over it eventually.

Answer 8

I think you're intelligent, compassionate, and have done your research. Good for you! Routine infant circumcision is a needless, barbaric custom whose time has come and gone.

Your father and brother's opinions don't matter. You're the mom! Simply stop discussing it with them. After the baby is born, they'll see that he was born perfect, no alterations required. Whatever ill-informed, out-dated arguments they may have had will be proven wrong.

Congratulations and, again, GOOD FOR YOU!

Answer 9

I definetley think that it is a choice between you and the father of the baby. Since you are very familiar with the cleaning, etc. that is necessary to tae care of it it should be a decision for the two of you.

Answer 10

When you think about it, circumcision is a very strange thing to do. Although I am not against it, I don't see how it is necessary. As a parent, it is your right to make the decision with the father of the baby, not your family's. What do they care??? Besides, if your son decides later in his life that he would like to be circumcised, he can. More and more Americans are opting to leave the little wieners alone. You should feel comfortable with your decision.