Does your OBGYN perform circumcisions?

[ma2two]

I just read on another thread that most circumcisions are performed by OBGYNs.

I love my OBGYN, but I'll be asking him if he performs circumcisions, and if he does, Buh bye.

I'm not too worried, because he is such a gentle soul, I can't imagine he would. But I'm still going to ask.

[Crunchy Frog]

Yes. The one that I had for my twins does them right in his office. He's apparently so "progressive" that he won't do it in the newborn nursery because it interferes with breastfeeding, but does it in the office shortly after release.

I was around for a few of them and I don't think he gives the anesthetic time to take effect. I actually heard one being done while I was waiting in an exam room and there was very intense screaming (though muted due to heavy soundproofing). I HATED being in that office.

From what I've heard, there is only one single OB in this entire area who won't do them.

[OhioJenna]

Yes, my OBGYN performs them in the hospital. He has circ'd both of our sons and we've had no problems.

[tammylsmith]

My midwife performs all OB/GYN duties except for c-sections and circumcisions. And she is THE BEST can't say enough about how much I love my midwife vs. my former OB! And my OB's not bad, midwives are just awesome

[Fellow Traveler]

Be prepaired to be shocked then because he or she probably does them.

[Purple Sage]

I know the OB I had when I was pregnant with my son does them because I was asked at every.single.appointment if I wanted him circ'd, and then they were shocked every.single.time when I said "No, it's his penis, his choice."

[Drummer's Wife]

I saw midwives for all four pregnancies - but their back-up OB performed my c-sections. Yes, he did circumcisions. He was relieved when I declined... said he hated doing them. Why he couldn't just refuse, I'm not sure - but I assume working in a practice he quite possibly couldn't? Regardless, he is an awesome person and OB - and no, it didn't cross my mind to find a new doc b/c he did circs. He is a surgeon I'd trust with my life and, I can't imagine finding anyone better when c-sections were necessary. That all was far more important to me than the fact that he, like the majority of OBGYNs, performed circumcisions. My 3 sons are intact, btw.

[Drummer's Wife]

I'm curious if anyone knows OB's who don't do circs. I'll have to ask my mom (who is a CNM), if she's aware of any who refuse. I don't think it's common at all. I think it would be awesome, sure, because the less providers who circ (and the less insurance companies who pay for it), obviously the less baby boys who will be cut.

[vachi73]

I have had three different OBs deliver my four (intact) boys, and all three do circ. Though two of the three said independently, once we declined circ, that they hated them. I wish they would be forthcoming about it and just decline, but for whatever reason(s) they still offer.

[eleonrauis]

Neither OB at the practice I use do circumcisions. But I think the Family Practice doc that works with them does. I don't know why they don't do them, but was told in my birthing class that if I wanted m baby circed I would have to arrange it with someone else.

[Fellow Traveler]

Originally Posted by vachi73

Though two of the three said independently, once we declined circ, that they hated them. I wish they would be forthcoming about it and just decline, but for whatever reason(s) they still offer.

I really wish I could figure out why they don't just say no when they "don't like to do them." It's important that they stand by their convictions.

[dmpmercury]

I am not sure if my OB does them. Part of me is curious if he does but the other part doesn't want to hear that he does perform them since I like him so much and he is the relaxed natural birth friendly OB in town. I wouldn't stop seeing him but I don't want to think of him performing them because it would color my perception of him. I'm not sure if I want to ask and find out. I been temtped to ask but I haven't yet. I see the questions on circumcision at my pediatrician and my OB never asked if I was having it done after I found out is was boy so I like to hope he doesn't.

One of my friend keeps in touch with her OB and is friendly with him. He is also known to be one of the natural birth friendly birth cool OBs in the area. My friend posted a video on circumcision and he commented about how he performs them does he need to watch it and talked about what he uses and how the babies didn't react that bad and it very negatively colored my view on him. It seems worse to me to actually perform them without thought and to bring it up so casually and not to see the harm then to be a parent who didn't really know any better and thinks it just what you do if you have a boy.

[Night_Nurse]

Originally Posted by Drummer's Wife

I'm curious if anyone knows OB's who don't do circs.

The hospital where I worked until recently had approximately 15 or more OB/Gyns delivering there. Only one would not perform circs. I don't know if she was opposed for ethical reasons or she didn't feel competent to do them, but anyway, she's the only one there who won't do them.

[nainai0585]

My OB does do them but it is not covered at all. The parent(s) must pay up front to have it done. When my oldest ds was circ. 5 yrs ago I had to pay the OB $100 cash in the room (I stayed for the entire circ. process) and another $100 to the hospital. This time around when ds #2 is born (I'm just about 41 weeks now) I have to give the OB $163 up front and $113 to the hospital. This is all in Canadian funds.

I fought dh at first when getting our oldest circ., and we argued and debated for at least 2 months before ds was born. In the end I needed to relent and let dh get what he wants.....for once

[Galatea]

Originally Posted by nainai0585

I fought dh at first when getting our oldest circ., and we argued and debated for at least 2 months before ds was born. In the end I needed to relent and let dh get what he wants.....for once

What did your ds want to happen to his penis?

[2xy]

I don't know if my OB's did circs...they probably did. Both of my babies were born in military hospitals. Nobody ever pressured me to circ, but I'm sure they were all trained for the procedure.

I used to work as a medical assistant, and the last doc I worked with was an OB who was the head of ob/gyn at the local hospital. He did not do circumcisions. A big part of the reason he did not do them is that he is Iranian and can remember his own circumcision that happened at age 6 or 7. The downside to him is that he didn't promote breastfeeding, thinking it unnecessary in a country with an ample food supply. So, you win some, you lose some.

[MyBoysBlue]

Originally Posted by nainai0585

I have to give the OB $163 up front and $113 to the hospital. This is all in Canadian funds.

I'm glad it is difficult though unfortunatly not impossible for you to have your son's circed. I have heard many stories about how difficult it can be for some Canadian Parents to find a doctor willing to do a circ. Even so far as some going to the US to get it done or traveling to another province. Some provinces have such a low Circ rate it's near zero. I've heard amounts as low as $300 and as high at $800. My Doctor was a family doctor and he didn't do circs.

[SubliminalDarkness]

Originally Posted by Fellow Traveler

I really wish I could figure out why they don't just say no when they "don't like to do them." It's important that they stand by their convictions.

Because it's business. Do you remember the uproar years ago about pharmacists that didn't want to dispense the morning after pill? And people were up in arms, saying if they didn't want to dispense medications, they shouldn't be in that line of work.
I think the same logic applies to OB/GYNs and circumcisions. It's part of what that field of medicine does. If they don't want to do them, they should pursue another field of medicine.

Yes, my OB/GYNs performed circumcisions.

[brant31]

Originally Posted by SubliminalDarkness

I think the same logic applies to OB/GYNs and circumcisions. It's part of what that field of medicine does. If they don't want to do them, they should pursue another field of medicine.

I think that's rather the point. Operating on boys' penises is most definitely not part of that field of medicine, in any sense. That is why OBs themselves are writing medical journal articles calling for everyone in their specialty (fetuses and female bodies) to rapidly exit the practice of male circumcision.

In theory, it should be exclusively the province of Pediatric Urologists or Andrologists.

[tennisdude23]

Originally Posted by nainai0585

My OB does do them but it is not covered at all. The parent(s) must pay up front to have it done. When my oldest ds was circ. 5 yrs ago I had to pay the OB $100 cash in the room (I stayed for the entire circ. process) and another $100 to the hospital. This time around when ds #2 is born (I'm just about 41 weeks now) I have to give the OB $163 up front and $113 to the hospital. This is all in Canadian funds.

I fought dh at first when getting our oldest circ., and we argued and debated for at least 2 months before ds was born. In the end I needed to relent and let dh get what he wants.....for once

Welcome to the forum. There are a lot of resources here, which I hope you will utilize and reconsider circumcision. This decision should not be about you or your husband (e.g.: what he wants) but about your child. Cosmetic surgery should not be considered lightly and I would strongly urge you to rethink the ethics of doing a non-therapeutic procedure, especially given the potential for adverse consequences and lack of knowledge about your child's future wishes.