Ever since my babies got home from the NICU, I've had this public health nurse making regular visits. She's really a good woman who has been extremely helpful and supportive to me.
On her very first visit, when the babies were still three weeks shy of their due date, and in the 4 to 5 lbs range, she asked if they had been or were going to be circumcised. No on both counts. She then did some other stuff, and then casually said "And you know about pulling back the foreskin to clean under it, right?" I sort of gaped a little, then muttered something like "Actually, we've been told that we should never do that with a baby." and then the subject was closed and never mentioned again.
So ever since then I've felt kind of bad about it because I know she's in a position to influence alot of new parents who are not as informed as I am. I just had no idea how to bring it up, and didn't want to make her feel defensive or alienated after all the helpful things she's done for us.
So I've felt in the back of my mind for a long time that I had to say something, and yesterday finally was our official last visit. She has by this time already demonstrated a willingness to learn new things. She had expressed appreciation for the things she had learned from me about the plagiocephaly that we've been dealing with, so I was hopeful that she would be open to this.
Anyway, I went ahead and brought up what she had said at that first visit, and told her that I had found an interesting article on the subject that I wanted to give her. Then I gave her a printout of this article, http://www.kindredmedia.com.au/libra...ractions/401/1
Anyway, she ended up being extremely positive about it. She saw the title "Only Clean What is Seen" and said, "hmm, that makes alot of sense." I talked to her a little bit about it, and told her how I care for my boys, and that they've never had any problems, and she was just very positive about the whole thing, and thanked me for giving her the information.
So, I just feel very good about the encounter. She's now in a position to give correct advice to many parents, (and she did say that she's seeing quite a few more intact boys these days).
I feel kind of bad that I waited this long to do, but I'm glad that I seem to have done it the right way, and at a time when she was most receptive to the information.
Anyway, I apologize for the length of the post, but I feel really good about the whole thing, and I hope people will take heart that some people in the medical field really are educable.
On her very first visit, when the babies were still three weeks shy of their due date, and in the 4 to 5 lbs range, she asked if they had been or were going to be circumcised. No on both counts. She then did some other stuff, and then casually said "And you know about pulling back the foreskin to clean under it, right?" I sort of gaped a little, then muttered something like "Actually, we've been told that we should never do that with a baby." and then the subject was closed and never mentioned again.
So ever since then I've felt kind of bad about it because I know she's in a position to influence alot of new parents who are not as informed as I am. I just had no idea how to bring it up, and didn't want to make her feel defensive or alienated after all the helpful things she's done for us.
So I've felt in the back of my mind for a long time that I had to say something, and yesterday finally was our official last visit. She has by this time already demonstrated a willingness to learn new things. She had expressed appreciation for the things she had learned from me about the plagiocephaly that we've been dealing with, so I was hopeful that she would be open to this.
Anyway, I went ahead and brought up what she had said at that first visit, and told her that I had found an interesting article on the subject that I wanted to give her. Then I gave her a printout of this article, http://www.kindredmedia.com.au/libra...ractions/401/1
Anyway, she ended up being extremely positive about it. She saw the title "Only Clean What is Seen" and said, "hmm, that makes alot of sense." I talked to her a little bit about it, and told her how I care for my boys, and that they've never had any problems, and she was just very positive about the whole thing, and thanked me for giving her the information.
So, I just feel very good about the encounter. She's now in a position to give correct advice to many parents, (and she did say that she's seeing quite a few more intact boys these days).
I feel kind of bad that I waited this long to do, but I'm glad that I seem to have done it the right way, and at a time when she was most receptive to the information.
Anyway, I apologize for the length of the post, but I feel really good about the whole thing, and I hope people will take heart that some people in the medical field really are educable.
Good for you!!
