Kind of Urgent Question

[bmcneal]

I was reading the thread about if boys are routinely circ'ed in the US, and I realized something after reading one of the posts. We pre-registered at the hospital about a month ago. I read through the packet they had me sign before I signed it, and didn't see anything about circumcision, so I went ahead and signed it. Later, I was re-reading it, and it said, under the maternity section, something to the extent of "I consent to whetever care the provider prescribes for the patient (the baby)" Would circumcision be included in said "care"? When I asked DH, he said that it (circumcision) wouldn't be considered "care", therefore, we don't have to worry about me having signed consent. I'm not so sure, and I'm worried and wondering if we should go to the hospital tomorrow while we are in town anyway (I have to go to a different city, since I'm having a VBAC), and tell them I need to change something on the pre-registration paperwork. Any ideas? I'm really freaking out...

[Fellow Traveler]

Originally Posted by bmcneal

I was reading the thread about if boys are routinely circ'ed in the US, and I realized something after reading one of the posts. We pre-registered at the hospital about a month ago. I read through the packet they had me sign before I signed it, and didn't see anything about circumcision, so I went ahead and signed it. Later, I was re-reading it, and it said, under the maternity section, something to the extent of "I consent to whetever care the provider prescribes for the patient (the baby)" Would circumcision be included in said "care"? When I asked DH, he said that it (circumcision) wouldn't be considered "care", therefore, we don't have to worry about me having signed consent. I'm not so sure, and I'm worried and wondering if we should go to the hospital tomorrow while we are in town anyway (I have to go to a different city, since I'm having a VBAC), and tell them I need to change something on the pre-registration paperwork. Any ideas? I'm really freaking out...

I don't know for sure but for peace of mind I would type out a circumcision refusal form copy here http://www.circumstitions.com/Refusal.html and provide a copy to your OBGYN and file one with your paper work.

[1littlebit]

i would talk to the ob as well.. before hand... and make you position very clear.

[Rev1053]

Tell the nurses. Tell the doctor.
In my experience they asked me. When I refused they didn't bring it up again.
Oh and never let the baby out of your or DH's sight.

[DBZ]

Circ was always a seperate form for me. I remember them asking me to sign that when I was in major pain with my first. Put it in your birth plan as well as telling docs and nurses. My doula went with the baby to the nursery for the limited stuff I was going to let them do. She would have circed the man trying to circ my baby if they even asked about it LOL.

[kldliam]

The BEST BET, is to NEVER let your kid out of sight. Creepy people are everywhere! In the L&D ward they just happen to wear white coats and try to sell you that nifty product called "cirk'em"-cision.

Try to have your husband follow baby EVERYWHERE and make sure that you room-in with your son. They also sell "no-circ" baby T's. They are sooooo cute! There's lots of them to pick from. You can make some colorful signs too and have your husband tape them on the little guy's hospital baby bed.

Here's a cute onesie:

http://clothing.cafepress.com/item/g...suit/253685554

best wishes and congrats to you!!!!!

[onelilguysmommy]

thats why i refused to sign any of their crap when i had my older (my second wasnt born at a hospital). if they think its needed, technically you signed it as they can do it. if theres no stipulation, then they can take that as anything they want.

[kate3]

The consent for circumcision is a separate form, as you and your baby are separate patients. It is not part of the general OB consent.

Creepy people are everywhere! In the L&D ward they just happen to wear white coats and try to sell you that nifty product called "cirk'em"-cision.

I'm not sure what this is supposed to mean, especially the white coat part?? Be sure to talk with your provider prior to delivery and let him/her know your wishes. You may be asked again in the hospital. This isn't because the staff wants to do circumcisions, it's because they have to be scheduled, and this involves staffing issues. Believe me, the staff will be very happy when you say no.

[RMM1117]

All the pp's have great ideas!!! Also, get an index card and write in huge letters "DO NOT CIRC" and tape it to the inside of the basinette he will be in at the hospital, jic. Thats what we did

[1littlebit]

my Ob was thrilled when i said no!! he doesn't think there is a reason to do it and did not do it to his kids (he is also intact) yeah i know overshare lol ... but i think he was happy i decided not to do it. he isn't from the US so that might be why.

[mntnmom]

In the past it was routine care, they didn't even ask for consent. But now, as long as you follow all the great advise here to avoid a mix-up, your little guy will be fine. You didn't actually consent to care for your baby. That's seperate. Either when you arrive at the hosp. or after he's born.
CONGRATS

[thixle]

Originally Posted by onelilguysmommy

thats why i refused to sign any of their crap when i had my older (my second wasnt born at a hospital). if they think its needed, technically you signed it as they can do it. if theres no stipulation, then they can take that as anything they want.

YES!
You signed consent for care for both you and the baby. They can technically do anything "medical" they want without your express consent at the time because they already have it.

I learned my lesson when I had an absolutely unnecessary episiotomy with #1 and even though I was screaming NO, he did it anyway, and because I signed the blanket consent, I can't sue... awesome, huh? So, if they DID circ your son, you couldn't sue b/c you already consented

This last time, I crossed out that part and wrote in something like "my self or husband must give signatures for any procedures done." If I were you, I'd go back in and do the same, just in case of anything.

[kldliam]

kate3: I'm not sure what this is supposed to mean, especially the white coat part?? Be sure to talk with your provider prior to delivery and let him/her know your wishes. You may be asked again in the hospital. This isn't because the staff wants to do circumcisions, it's because they have to be scheduled, and this involves staffing issues. Believe me, the staff will be very happy when you say no.

lol. sounds like I hit a nerve....let me guess you work in the L&D ward?

"The staff" at your hospital may be "very happy" about it, but I am sure nobody there would find it within themselves to actually speak out against it? That wouldn't be wise on the part of "the staff", they could lose their job. Improperly informed folks=profits for the docs/hospital.

I am not sure if you know this, but there's still a whole lot of staff out there (those folks in white) who find clever ways to push "cirk'em" on uninformed people. $$$

[tennisdude23]

Originally Posted by thixle

YES!
You signed consent for care for both you and the baby. They can technically do anything "medical" they want without your express consent at the time because they already have it.

I learned my lesson when I had an absolutely unnecessary episiotomy with #1 and even though I was screaming NO, he did it anyway, and because I signed the blanket consent, I can't sue... awesome, huh? So, if they DID circ your son, you couldn't sue b/c you already consented

This last time, I crossed out that part and wrote in something like "my self or husband must give signatures for any procedures done." If I were you, I'd go back in and do the same, just in case of anything.

But the form in question is not a consent for circ. Circumcision itself has to be consented to specifically.

[perspective]

Originally Posted by tennisdude23

But the form in question is not a consent for circ. Circumcision itself has to be consented to specifically.

You would hope so, but from a legal stand point, and the medical beliefs of the doctor, that many not be true.

After that member mentioned episiotomy, I looked it up, and it reminded me a lot of male circumcision in some ways. First, as circumcision is the most commonly performed surgery on males, episiotomy is the most commonly performed surgery on females. Since the 1960's the rates have steadily been going down. But in some areas, like Latin America this can be performed up to 90% of the time, and doctors dont even ask for consent, they just do it! Apparently 30% of American women have had this procedure.

What happens is that if a doctor feels like the baby is stuck, or is just worried about the possibility of tearing to occur, they make one cut on the vaginal opening, to make things wider, and stitch it back after the birth.

If a doctor feels like they can do this, who knows what "emergency" a doctor may see in that little foreskin he may not understand... He/she will do what they think is best.

OP- You should not get overly paranoid or anything, but you did sign a blanket consent form, and at the very least, if you do have a very specific birth plan, its going to be a lot easier for that plan to fall apart if you have already signed something to let doctors do what they want.

[muttmom92]

I was asked (more than once ) if we were going to circ ds. Even though I didn't think they would really just take him and circ him without a specific consent form signed, I wasn't going to take any chances. He was NEVER out of my sight. And I had a c-section (failed VBAC). My midwife made sure I was allowed to be with him at all times. He never went to the nursery. I also told everyone and made them write it down that he was not to be circed or given a bottle.

[mntnmom]

There was a case several months ago of a couple whose baby was circ'd when 2 babies where mixed up. Luckily for the hospital, the parents wanted it done anyway. Does anyone have that article, or remember it?

Moral of the story, be careful. Doctors aren't inherently evil, but they are human and have their own issues and agendas.

[knucklehead]

As long as your son doesn't leave your or your husband's sight EVER, you shouldn't worry too much about it. Whatever reason they want to take him, such as PKU test or hearing test just have your husband there. If they say no then you say no to the test.

[bmcneal]

Could I go to admissions and change my cosent on that part? They would have to let me, wouldn't they? Since LO is/will be a separate patient come the time they would try and circumcise him, I didn't think it meant after he was born he would still be covered under *that* consent form. I thought he would have to have a separate consent form for after he was born, and that when they said any necessary care, that meant before he's born/while he's being born. DH and I plan on going to the hospital Monday and changing it, if we can. They would have to let us change it, right? Thanks.

[tennisdude23]

Originally Posted by bmcneal

Could I go to admissions and change my cosent on that part? They would have to let me, wouldn't they? Since LO is/will be a separate patient come the time they would try and circumcise him, I didn't think it meant after he was born he would still be covered under *that* consent form. I thought he would have to have a separate consent form for after he was born, and that when they said any necessary care, that meant before he's born/while he's being born. DH and I plan on going to the hospital Monday and changing it, if we can. They would have to let us change it, right? Thanks.

Seriously, stop worrying. Nobody is going to try and circumcise your son unless they specific permission from you do so. You did not give that permission. If you want to be safe, double check with the staff that you are not planning to circumcise. Again though, stop worrying.