need info about retraction

[knucklehead]

I know a mother who has a 2 year old son who is intact. However, unfortunately the doctor told her to forcibly retract and clean under the foreskin with soap. This was since the little guy was a newborn. He cried and bled a lot. Poor little guy. It is a miracle major trauma or infection hasn't occured. Now that she knows that she was misinformed she wants to know what to do now. Since it is fully retractable now should she keep washing under it (without soap of course)? Or should it be left alone? Will it still reattach at this point? I am at a loss at what to tell her but I want to help.

[glongley]

Leave it alone. No need to clean underneath. No need for more manipulation and trauma. When he's old enough to be interested in retracting it himself, and capable of following instructions, she can explain the three Rs (Retract, Rinse, Replace). But even then that might only need be done occasionally before puberty, then more regularly is a good idea.

Gillian

[asunlitrose]

I think she should leave it alone. It may reattach, it may not, but even though we can't see trauma doesn't mean it's not there. Give it a rest for a while.

And get her to send a letter to that doctor! :

[ma_Donna]

IMO - noone should touch his foreskin again unless he asks them to.

DS1 first retracted himself at about 3.5yo. I thought once he discovered this nifty little trick he would do it a lot. But, I think he's only done it a handful of times. I've told him that if he wants he can retract and swish it in the bath - he doesn't. No worries. Maybe when he's older.

I feel lucky that I found this forum when I was pregnant with him, the only 'assistance' he ever received with his foreskin was once he asked me to help him put it back.

Just once I had a student doctor say "Ok, now let's retract that foreskin and get a look" (re: my 1yo DS2) and I gently schooled him on not retracting.

HTH

[robertandenith]

omg poor baby and poor mama!

what a horrible doctor! ::

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

should be left alone from here on out and I hope that he dosnt have scare tissue from it thought with having it done all his life the odds are high he will have trouble.