Dr fully retracted my 6 month old

[mom2keira]

sorry- I know we see this all the time- but I just can't keep it together (emotionally) anymore w/o sharing

So this is a Dr. that I really trust and like- we hadn't seen her yet for my son though. So She always seems really AP, encouraged me to cosleep, BF laying down etc...so I didn't even bother saying anything about retracting him b/c stupid me assumed she wouldn't (the other Dr we see NEVER does it)
anyway- to make a long story short- she undid his diaper, checked his scrotum and went straight to retracting him...I shouted "OH NOOOOO" and she quickly stopped- asking "what was wrong, you never do this, see all the smegma? it needs to be cleaned out it causes infection" blah blah blah. At this point Owen was screaming (I scooped him up immediately after she retracted him) shes talking in my ear I am having heart palpatations and burning in my face. It was just awful- she continued to insist it needs to be done to "clean" him and shes seen balanitus (sp) etc. I just kept my mouth shut. She asked where I heard not to retract and I said AAP. She ran and got the book (she actually was being very sincere and trying to understand my position and I know that she THINKS that retracting and cleaning is the best thing to do) she said she planned to go online and research the things I have heard. Anyway- Im not upset with HER per se but I think that something needs to change (education) and I also think that Dr.s should always ask first before doing soemthing like this. Gosh it's been since Tues and I still shake thingking about it

She said he was "fully retractable" (not adheased) could this be tue already? How do you know? I still should just leave it though until he can clean it himself right?

Sorry guys- I know its a recurrent theme- but I just need to vent thanks

[Mimi]

i'd be upset,too, but i am so glad that your doctor at least listened to your concerns & tried to understand your point of view, that is worth a lot.
i am sorry it happened to you & your gorgeous little man, feel hugged, mama!
:

[2lilsweetfoxes]

It is possible that he's fully retractable. My son, if I remember correctly, was fully retractable as an infant. I know this because I'd watch him "play" with himself in the bathtub. But yeah, no one else but the boy needs to mess with it (well, maybe his partner in the bedroom once he's a grown man can, but that's years away...)

[mom2keira]

but you still just lef it alone right? didn't retract and rinse? we let them do that when they can do it themselves?

[babygrant]

Wow, I would be so angry. I would be tempted to print out the AAP literature and bring it to her since you may never know if she actually went home and read about it. Since he was screaming....I would think that he was not completely seperated and she ripped part of it away.

Your poor babe and poor mom.

[thixle]

Originally Posted by mom2keira

but you still just lef it alone right? didn't retract and rinse? we let them do that when they can do it themselves?

Yes. A soak in the bath will keep it clean. Think about your DD- you don't clean out her vagina, you simply wipe the parts you see. "Smegma" comes from the Greek word for soap- and girls usually have more than boys.
If he had a massive poop blow-out, just soak him in the tub or a sink of water. Otherwise, wipe like a finger.

[Yulia_R]

Please do something to educate her...

I'd be SOOOO angry. And no, I do NOT agree that it is not her fault because it IS. Yes, bad education does play a role. But this is HER JOB to know what she is doing and to make sure she is up to date. Imagine a professional who was supposed to fix your car actually mess it up to a point where it created a dangerous situation which resulted into your child being hurt. Would you NOT blame him just because he was TOUGHT to do it this way??

This doctor is HARMING her patients. I bet she sees infections only because SHE RETRACTS THE BOYS AND GIVES THEIR PARENTS WRONG CARING INSTRACTIONS. Intentionally or not, she might be causing life long complications for those poor boys.

Knowledge is responsibility. You have this knowledge. I really really think you should take the time to educate her. To write her a letter (with DOC's contact info if she has any questions) plus contact DOC so they could write her a letter as well. Please help those babies whose parents are not fortunate to have the knowledge you do.

[Serenyd]

I had this same sort of situation with my ped's office, thankfully, no one tried to pull on his foreskin, but I was told to try and "stretch" the foreskin of my 3 month old and that I need to "work" the bits of smegma out. I'll probably take a copy of the AAP guidelines with me next time I go (with relevant parts highlighted) and ask that it be included in his file. I'm still upset that I was given bad information and that my son's HCPs are so ignorant!

here is a link to AAP guidelines http://www.medem.com/medlib/article/ZZZRNBDTODD

[mom2keira]

Originally Posted by Yulia_R

I really really think you should take the time to educate her. To write her a letter (with DOC's contact info if she has any questions) plus contact DOC so they could write her a letter as well. Please help those babies whose parents are not fortunate to have the knowledge you do.

link?

Thanks mommas- What a horror!
and no- I haven't "retracted and rinsed" blech!

poor little guy- what is the problem with just leaving his penis as God made it?

[Yulia_R]

Originally Posted by mom2keira

link?

If you mean link to the contact info of DOC then here it is:

Doctors Opposing Circumcision
Suite 42
2442 NW Market Street
Seattle, Washington 98107-4137
USA

John V. Geisheker, JD, LL.M.
Executive Director,
Doctors Opposing Circumcision www.doctorsopposingcircumcision.org
1727-14th Ave., Suite #5
Seattle, WA 98122 USA
email John Geisheker
Tel/fax [phone]
Cell 206. +1 206. 465. 6636

Paul M. Fleiss, M.D.
Department: Division of General Pediatrics
Specialty: General Pediatrics
Address: 1824 N. Hillhurst Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90027
Phone: [phone]

[mom2keira]

thanks momma!

oops- the site expired on the 5th...i assume they will renew?

[LPBC]

s
I keep being surprised when I read stuff like that, where I come from (Europe) no doc would consider it, but then they are used to intact.
Sorry you both went through this.

[Yulia_R]

Originally Posted by mom2keira

thanks momma!

oops- the site expired on the 5th...i assume they will renew?

I bet they will. But you can always call them. Please let us know if you find the answer as far as their website's renewal.

[Yulia_R]

DOC website is back

[kriket]

Originally Posted by thixle

you don't clean out her vagina, you simply wipe the parts you see. "

that is an excellent analogy. There are parts on the body that don't need 'cleaned' You don't dig around in someones ear, you don't peel back their finger and toe nails, no cleaning rectums, no soap in noses, why can't people keep out of a foreskin!

[latinalonestar]

You need to file a complaint.

If your son were retractable (which would be rare at that young age) you still do NOT retract. Btw, since he was screaming, she tore some adhesions which tells me he is not retractable. The foreskin is fused like the nails to the nailbed. Only 50% of boys are retractable by age 10.

I'm so sorry momma! Please take the time to educate her. Print off some pamphlets and take send them to her. Also report her to DOC so they can send her some information and a letter.

http://www.mothering.com/articles/ne...uncircson.html

http://www.doctorsopposingcircumcisi...kinleaflet.pdf

http://www.nocirc.org/publish/pamphlet6.html

http://www.cirp.org/library/normal/aap/

http://www.nocirc.org/publish/pamphlet4.html

[mom2keira]

Thank you all soooo much- I sent an e-mail to her with a few links. Haven't heard back though!