My dad sent me an e-mail and had a paragraph about us needing to circumcise our son that is going to be born soon. He told me the reasons he had for doing it to his sons. He also told me that it was based on some of what his dad said. He mostly talked about hygiene and how it is easier on the kid to have it done as a baby vs. an older child or adult.
He did it in a respectful, kind manner. My brother just had a baby boy and they circumcised him... in retrospect I wonder if this is part of why my dad said anything. We generally aren't that close about certain topics.
My g-pa, dad, brothers and nephews lalalalala, all of them are circumcised. Ours will be the first intact male in the family in 90+ years.
My response...
Dear Dad,
Thanks dad for your guess (((about when our baby will be born))) and your concern. I appreciate the fact that you care that much about your grand kids.
Actually, there are no major medical boards who recommend circumcision anymore... in the world. The world wide circumcision rate is about 80%. The 20% who are circumcised (the majority) are in Israel and in the US. And the circumcision rate in the U.S. is only (about) 50%.
We believe that since the foreskin is a natural part of a human body, there aren't any reasons to do it, and actually it could be more detrimental. It is considered a cosmetic surgery anymore. And actually over 100 babies die from complications from it every year.
What happens when the foreskin is left on is that it will naturally separate as the boy gets older. The average age for separation is 10 years old. Back in the day they would tell parents who didn't circumcise that they had to forceably retract the foreskin to clean under it. If they did that before separation it would feel like ... Imagine your fingernail getting ripped off. It is that connected. And because it is that connected it can't get dirty. It would be like washing the inside of your baby daughter every time you changed her diaper or gave her a bath, it isn't necessary or recommended. By the age that it separates the boy will be taught proper hygiene just like a little girl.
Oh, and about keeping the foreskin from closing off, it does that itself. It is a sphincter, like the anus, or the esophagus. Poop comes out when it needs to and food stays in your stomach.. (unless you throw up obviously)
So with the foreskin, it will contract and expand as needed.
Part of the belief that the foreskin won't retract comes from the damage of parent's or Dr.s forcing that retraction before it is ready. It causes micro tears and those will scar and can cause it to not retract later on... which sometimes can lead to circumcision later in life.
We were going to circumcise, like if E had been a boy we probably would have. But I wanted to know what it entailed, I wanted to know why it was done, and then I wanted to know what would happen and how the foreskin would react if we didn't do it.
I am not getting into the function or purpose of the foreskin at this point, but the hygiene is important enough.
Oh, and yes, to be honest, in some kids separation can be uncomfortable and sometimes painful... but it is a natural function of the human body.
Also... if he wants it done later, he can choose to.
I think that you did the best for your kids with the information you had Dad. No worries on that front. But, we won't be doing it for any of our kids.
But I hope it comforts you that we have taken the time to research it and make sure with the information available now that we are doing the best for our kids. And if you have any more questions or concerns I will be glad to talk to you about it or send you to where I got my information.
Love you,
A
He did it in a respectful, kind manner. My brother just had a baby boy and they circumcised him... in retrospect I wonder if this is part of why my dad said anything. We generally aren't that close about certain topics.
My g-pa, dad, brothers and nephews lalalalala, all of them are circumcised. Ours will be the first intact male in the family in 90+ years.
My response...
Dear Dad,
Thanks dad for your guess (((about when our baby will be born))) and your concern. I appreciate the fact that you care that much about your grand kids.
Actually, there are no major medical boards who recommend circumcision anymore... in the world. The world wide circumcision rate is about 80%. The 20% who are circumcised (the majority) are in Israel and in the US. And the circumcision rate in the U.S. is only (about) 50%.
We believe that since the foreskin is a natural part of a human body, there aren't any reasons to do it, and actually it could be more detrimental. It is considered a cosmetic surgery anymore. And actually over 100 babies die from complications from it every year.
What happens when the foreskin is left on is that it will naturally separate as the boy gets older. The average age for separation is 10 years old. Back in the day they would tell parents who didn't circumcise that they had to forceably retract the foreskin to clean under it. If they did that before separation it would feel like ... Imagine your fingernail getting ripped off. It is that connected. And because it is that connected it can't get dirty. It would be like washing the inside of your baby daughter every time you changed her diaper or gave her a bath, it isn't necessary or recommended. By the age that it separates the boy will be taught proper hygiene just like a little girl.
Oh, and about keeping the foreskin from closing off, it does that itself. It is a sphincter, like the anus, or the esophagus. Poop comes out when it needs to and food stays in your stomach.. (unless you throw up obviously)
So with the foreskin, it will contract and expand as needed.
Part of the belief that the foreskin won't retract comes from the damage of parent's or Dr.s forcing that retraction before it is ready. It causes micro tears and those will scar and can cause it to not retract later on... which sometimes can lead to circumcision later in life.
We were going to circumcise, like if E had been a boy we probably would have. But I wanted to know what it entailed, I wanted to know why it was done, and then I wanted to know what would happen and how the foreskin would react if we didn't do it.
I am not getting into the function or purpose of the foreskin at this point, but the hygiene is important enough.
Oh, and yes, to be honest, in some kids separation can be uncomfortable and sometimes painful... but it is a natural function of the human body.
Also... if he wants it done later, he can choose to.
I think that you did the best for your kids with the information you had Dad. No worries on that front. But, we won't be doing it for any of our kids.
But I hope it comforts you that we have taken the time to research it and make sure with the information available now that we are doing the best for our kids. And if you have any more questions or concerns I will be glad to talk to you about it or send you to where I got my information.
Love you,
A
Follow Mothering