Couldn't a local anesthetic be given to baby boys when they're circumcized?

Question

How do we know for sure that baby boys don't feel the pain of circumcision? If we're not 100% sure (and only a baby can tell us this), wouldn't it make sense to err on the side of caution and give the baby a local? He wouldn't be drugged down with a general anesthetic, so important to be careful of with babies.

Wouldn't it be better to use a local rather than nothing?

Btw, I'm not prego and I'm not a Mommy, but curious. I read about this on Wiki, and yes, some docs put a cream and others use a local, and some even do both (so the cream can reduce the pain of the local injection... yeow!), but there are still some Dr's who use nothing.

Barbaric.

I read about mohels and how they don't always use anesthetics, but that their way is a quick clipping, rather than crushing the skin. Jewish babies generally experience less pain than babies having this done by crushing the skin.

I wonder if mohels would do this for non Jews, being that the parent can always request a local, their clipping method is less painful than crushing? That is, of course, if the mohel is an MD, 'cause not all of them are.

Answer 1

Yes, it is better to use a local rather than nothing. But best of all is to leave him with his male parts intact! Why would you do this to him anyway? It is proven to decrease sexual sensation, and he's eventually going to grow up and be sexually active, even though it's hard to think of that now. And keeping it clean is not a big deal. NEVER force the foreskin back to clean under it, though. It will loosen by puberty, and he should be taught to roll it back himself when he washes all his other body parts.

There is NO good reason to do this barbaric procedure. It is dropping sharply in popularity, and most of his peers will have intact penises.

Answer 2

I am not a Jew.

It is not that painful! If it is done in the conventional way. May be like an injection.

In the conventional way the foreskin is stretched to the max by a thread and the cutting is done with a sharp sterilized sharp knife. Over in seconds.

In either method the pain is a day or two later as you can read in Gen 34.

My brother who was circumcized by doctors has a tough even 30 years later. The edges are not cut smoothly and it keeps an itching sort of feeling. (People who have undergone surgeries will have the same sensation if the seams are protruding)

In any case, while going for a circucision, make sure that it is done by experienced hands.

Answer 3

My top ten boys names are: 1. Archer Daniel 2. Brighton James 3. Jax Alexander 4. Vincent Jude 5. Oliver Quinn 6. Sebastian Clay 7. Jasper Thomas 8. Caleb Issac 9. Nathaniel Lee 10. Loki Jacob.

Answer 4

My son was given an anesthetic when he was circumsized. I'm not sure if it was a local or a topical. ( It was 13 years ago ) I was told by the HUC at the hospital that not all doctors use anesthetic, but the one I choose did, luckily. I don't know why some wouldn't. I'm sure they feel pain. It's good that they don't remember it I guess!

Answer 5

They do feel pain, and most docs will use a topical cream on the penis before circumcision. There are some risks to the cream, so some docs choose not to use it. Parents can request it, and the doc will usually go over the risks before doing so.

Answer 6

My pediatrician (both of them, I had different ones for each baby) did use a local anesthetic on my boys when they were circumsized. Of course they feel pain. Part of their skin that's attached to a very tender part of the male body is being cut off. A doctor that's going to use nothing on them, shouldn't be a doctor. Poor babies.

Answer 7

A local could be used, yes. And believe me, babies do feel the pain. I was a nurse and had to participate in circumcisions. The general consensus is that no baby will remember the brief moment of pain later in life. It is a lazy and barbaric way to look at things. But then again, I think circumcision itself is unnecessary and barbaric.

Answer 8

We know that they do feel the pain of circumcision...that's really not in question.

My first had his done in hospital at 2 days old...no anesthetic...that's just how that dr does it...

Second had his at six weeks at a surgical clinic...with local anesthetic, as that's how that surgeon performs the procedure.

And yes, for anyone who says 'how could you do that', it was a well thought out decision related to family medical history.

Answer 9

the pediatrician came in an explained the procedure to me before they took him and they told me they use a numbing ointment similar to what they use on you for your epidural. My baby seemed to be fine when he came it, he just got a little irritated every diaper change. He seems fine now. Im sure they feel pain i mean look at the area being snipped! But my dr used a numbing ointment that way they werent "drugging" him.

Answer 10

They do. When you are giving consent for the circumcision you will aslo be able to sign the form for the local/topical. Thats what they did when I had my son done. So I would think they do it at every hospital.

Hope this helps.
DEBORAH