To circumcise or not?

[Jennifer330]

My husband and I have had many conversations about whether or not to circumcise our baby boy. We've talked to the doctor and there are pros and cons to either side but truly no medical benefit to have it done. I hate the thought of my baby being in pain. It's not common in most countries around the world except the U.S.  

I'm looking for others honest opinions on this topic. Thanks!

[coffeebuzzedliz]

I am having my second girl, but if I were to have a boy I would have him circumsized. Just a personal choice plus the hygiene part. I would not stress about the pain only because they get over it so quickly and people do not have memories from being a day old. I know with my daughter and having to get shots and blood drawn that you feel terrible but that they get over it quickly and move on especially if given a treat after.

[Jennifer330]

Thank you all for your honest responses! It's such a personal decision. I too worry about the social aspects as he gets into his teenage years. I have to really think this through some more with my husband.

[steph0607]

i did have my son done..but i think i done it just becuase that is what his dad had and everyone i know has had it done..it really didnt effect my son at all..now i have a cousin that didnt have her son done and it really just looks weird to me and kind of makes me a little uncomfortable..i would do it again if i were to have another son

[Krissy318]

Mine are not done and I am not getting this one done either. As long as boys are taught how to keep it clean then everything will be fine. Even though my family made fun of my boys for not having it done calling their maleness an ant eater it didnt bother me because I am a believer that god made it that way for a reason. I feel like it was made to protect the head of the penis. These are just my personal feelings.

[Jennie1211]

I honestly had no opinion on the issue either way so I left it up to my husband to decide. I could have opted to have it done or not, but for some reason he was completely adamant about having it done, so I've decided to defer. I am nervous about the pain, though. I'm sure it will break my heart if he screams and cries.

[kai0912]

I had my first done and will definately have this second one done as well. Even though it not covered under my insurance and i have to pay $250 i refuse to leave the hospital with out it being done.... To me its more of a personal belief and a hygiene issue its so much easier to keep clean. I personally dont like a adult man who isnt circumcised have never been with one who isnt.... Plus when its done as a newborn they dont remember the pain.... My son never had complications with healing and what not as long as u take care of it like the drs say it heals fast n you and baby forget all about it. But like i said i had it done mainly for hygiene n personal feelings

[kai0912]

I had my first done and will definately have this second one done as well. Even though it not covered under my insurance and i have to pay $250 i refuse to leave the hospital with out it being done.... To me its more of a personal belief and a hygiene issue its so much easier to keep clean. I personally dont like a adult man who isnt circumcised have never been with one who isnt.... Plus when its done as a newborn they dont remember the pain.... My son never had complications with healing and what not as long as u take care of it like the drs say it heals fast n you and baby forget all about it. But like i said i had it done mainly for hygiene n personal feelings

[mum2beagain]

Oh and of course they were just my opinions and I fully respect other peoples choices. I have friends who have circumcised their boys, I would never say they made the wrong choice. Just their choice is different than mine.

[mum2beagain]

Neither of my boys are done, we are British, only certain religious communities circumcise there, same for pretty much all of Europe. We are in Canada now and it is pretty much discouraged here now too, parents have to pay privately for it to be done. An uncircumcised penis in a child requires no special care and by the time the foreskin needs to be retracted (around 4/5 years of age boys can easily be taught to do it themselves. Ther are lots of stories of adults with complications but in fact are rare and usually occur in adults requiring nursing when carers aren't properly trained to clean uncircumcised males correctly. There are an equal number of horror stories about complications in circumcised infants.
My husband is circumcised and interestingly enough was actually quite strongly against having our boys done, he believes males are born with that skin for a reason and removing it for aesthetic purposes isn't necessary. I was thankful for that as I didn't want to get into a debate with him about it!
It is a very personal decision and has in recent years been recognised by the AAP as being an unnecessary procedure.
It boils down to a personal choice that both you and your husband need to agree on. Good luck.

[jenkaye21]

Well, we had our 3 boys circumcised, mostly to "be like dad".  It IS very stressful to think about the pain the newborn *must* be in the have that procedure done, however, to be honest, at least 2 of mine came back within minutes, sound asleep!  
Healing was uncomplicated, and it just looks "normal" to me now, you know?
I also know several boys/men who have needed to, for medical reasons (not sure what, exactly), have the procedure done as a teenager/adult.  To me, I'm sure that was much more traumatic, and it made me glad to have done it when mine were babies.
Just my 2 cents. :)