Ways to distribute circumcision information?

[mare54]

I recently donated to NOCIRC and ordered their pamphlets about circumcision and I want to distribute them to expectant parents. I just wondered if others had ideas as to how to distribute them?  We only have one hospital, so I thought about making some visits to the labor/delivery waiting room.... but wonder if that is not a good time to pass out that information?  I wish I knew how to reach the people expecting baby boys.  I think it is everyone's responsibility to help get the word out about the facts of circumcision and save baby boys.  What do you think?

[Dan Bollinger]

Get permission first. Hospitals are private property and your city will have solicitation ordnances, too.

[AfricanQueen99]

I think hospital distribution will only give you negative reactions as parents waiting have extremely preoccupied minds.

What about sticking them in-between boxes of baby items at BRU?

[Dan Bollinger]

BRU = Babies R Us?  Again, that's private property and perhaps trespassing. I am sure that BRU managers would find that inappropriate. And, parents might find it strange and illicit, too. What does is say about the message when the messenger acts surreptitiously? To me, that says you cannot trust the message. 

I find pamphlets a poor way to communicate this issue. The mistake is that "If you just knew more, you'd make the right decision.", but decisions aren't made logically. My proof?  SUVs! 

Talk with expectant parents. If they want to learn more, THEN give them a pamphlet. 

[AfricanQueen99]

I would agree that pamphlets aren't the way to go, also, but it sounds as if she would prefer that to stopping pregnant women on the street.

[TyrantOfTheWeek]

Stick cards or wrist bands in Geocaches!

http://www.geocaching.com/

[CrunchyChristianMama]

Do you have a natural parenting/cloth diapering store in your area?  If so, you may see if the owner would be willing to have them out with other brochures and things that are usually available in that type of setting.

Otherwise you may see if any local childbirth educators would be interested in having them on hand to give to interested families. 

[LiLStar]

lol, I love geocaching but it seems like young adults who haven't had kids yet (or perhaps, are planning more kids in the future) are in the vast minority! At least its the impression I get at the couple events I've been to.. lots and lots in the 40+ crowd

Originally Posted by TyrantOfTheWeek 

Stick cards or wrist bands in Geocaches!

http://www.geocaching.com/

edit: accidentally put majority when I meant minority, oops! 

[Adaline'sMama]

You have to ask permission first but:

OB office
Gynecologist office (these women may one day have a baby)
Pediatrician's office
The office where you go to apply for medicaid and foodstamps (at ours you can put any free information stuff their, just not stuff that is asking for money)
Walmart, Babies R Us, Target: slip the pamphlet down into the boxes of things that people purchase prebaby (cribs, swings, especially anything blue)
Coffee shops
Daycares (lots of moms and dads who have one kid are having another....)
Laundromat corkboards
Bookstores - stick in the front cover of all the parenting books that people would buy when pregnan



Basically, anywhere where people have to wait. Especially places where people of a lower income level frequent because those are the people who typically have less access to information.



Obviously, I woudnt ask any of the retail stores. They are going to tell you no or that they have to ask corporate. Id just do it, but I dont really care if I get caught.

[mare54]

Keep those ideas coming in!  Talking to and educating parents about this issue is of course, the best way, however, that is not always convenient or possible.  I thought of the pamphlets because it covers everything, and it would be easy enough to start a basic conversation and then say, "here is a pamphlet from an organization that has a lot of information on circumcision, if you would like to know more".  I tell my "guilt" story a lot, but it is a personal experience I wish I could change.  Sometimes it does make people think though.  I think the best way to get the facts out would be childbirth classes.  Then possibly ob/gyn offices, but then you would have to get permission.  I wonder if DOC (Doctors opposing circumcision) has a list of doctors that are not pro circumcision?  I am finding that what is happening is that it is being put on the parents, to "let them decide"... and not wanting to really give them facts about it.  I guess it's a way of staying neutral.  But that's the problem, even with the AAP not recommending routine circumcision, they are still not giving all the facts.  In fact they are pretty vague, and will still cite some health benefits for the PRO circ.  Sometimes even one health benefit cited by the AAP is enough to sway parents towards circumcision!  I've seen it!  But I don't understand it.  The other thing is that there is plenty of information on the internet, so you would think parents would do their homework, but sadly in lots of cases, they don't.  I just hope the legislation to stop all genital mutilation gets enough attention and gets this horrible thing stopped for good.

[TyrantOfTheWeek]

Hey at least some Geocachers have access to pregnant people or whatever. Education is education. Maybe those 40+ people will be having grand babies or nephews in the future.

Originally Posted by LiLStar 

lol, I love geocaching but it seems like young adults who haven't had kids yet (or perhaps, are planning more kids in the future) are in the vast minority! At least its the impression I get at the couple events I've been to.. lots and lots in the 40+ crowd

edit: accidentally put majority when I meant minority, oops! 

[Adaline'sMama]

And actually, I know three different married couples that are trying to ttc and all three of them geocash. Maybe my friends are just dorks.

[mare54]

Ummm.... I guess I'm old, but what is geocashing????

[Dan Bollinger]

That link to the official website says it all. I have a Geocache, one of the oldest in Indiana: Critters. 

FYI:  That's CACHE (not cash) as in treasure, horde, hidden stockpile.

[AfricanQueen99]

another idea:

I'm not sure if your town has one, but what about ads on Craigslist? You could put them in the baby section about circ and offering to send a pamphlet.

[mare54]

We do have a local publication that has stuff for sale, community events, etc.  and they offer free ads.  I  put one is that says " Say No to Circumcision!  Get facts  NOCIRC.org and save baby boys and human rights."  It can't be too long and I haven't seen it yet (it comes out on Thursdays for a week).  At least it is something and if it's free, I am willing to run it EVERY week!  I also got the information packet from NOCIRC yesterday and it is excellent!  They are sending me 50 :  "Answers to your questions about the Bioethics of Infant Circumcision" and fifty of "Answers to your questions about Infant Circumcision".  They have some great information.  I am happy to donate to them!  I am also going to contact the local childbirth education classes and ask about possibly doing a section on circumcision.  If they won't do it, maybe they will let me do it, who knows.  NOCIRC also sent me an dvd, so it would not be that hard to put together a little informative presentation and then hand out the flyers.  You only have to clear it with NOCIRC if you are going to use their name, otherwise you can basically do whatever works to educate people.  I'll report on how they ad looks if they run it.  I love all the think tanks coming up with more and more ideas.  Thanks everyone!

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

I put cards on gas pumps either sticking it into the card holder or anywhere where they would stay.

[Night_Nurse]

I disagree that pamphlets aren't effective ways to spread the word. So many times in real life (I worked 10+ years as a maternity nurse) and reading online where people had said if only they knew they had a choice not to circ or the truth about circ vs intactness, they would have left their boy intact. A pamphlet is a wonderful way to let the general public know there is the option of not circumcising. I bought pamphlets in bulk and have left them in various places such as:

-bulletin/cork boards at book stores, post offices, restaurants, grocery stores, laundromat or any place that allows the public to post items on a community board

- in waiting rooms of doctor's offices (no, they won't give you permission so don't leave in bulk. Leave 1 or 2 by the magazines)

-Magazine/newspaper racks - again, just 1 or 2.

-inside baby changing tables that hang on the wall of bathrooms in malls, restaurants, airports

-inside seat pocket of airplanes

-I've handed some out to pregnant people when the topic comes up. I always carry some in my purse.

There are lots of places to leave them if you get creative!

I do agree you must be careful not to "trespass" on hospital property. I wouldn't leave them in a waiting room unless you were already at the hospital visiting someone and even then, I wouldn't leave a bunch. You might call your local hospital's childbirth educator and offer her some pamphlets she could hand out to students if desired. You might also contact any local midwife or birth center as they might be more willing to hand out some pamphlets.

[To-Fu]

This sounds good to me, too.
 

Originally Posted by CrunchyChristianMama 

Do you have a natural parenting/cloth diapering store in your area?  If so, you may see if the owner would be willing to have them out with other brochures and things that are usually available in that type of setting.

Otherwise you may see if any local childbirth educators would be interested in having them on hand to give to interested families. 

[mare54]

Thanks.  We have a part of town that is more country and putting something like this there would be singing to the choir!  I am more interested in people who may be very unaware of the facts of circumcision and be open to finding out more.  I did send a packet to one childbirth education business with some information about NOCIRC and copied one of the pamphlets to send her.  I looked over  her curriculum  online and there was not one thing about circumcision, but everything else was quite thorough.  I hope she will be open to it.  NOCIRC also sent me a DVD, "Circumcision:  Make the Informed Decision", and I offered to duplicate it for the childbirth educator lady.  In fact, I am happy to copy for anyone who is interested in getting the facts here!

What I find hard, is keeping my true feelings about it low key.  I truly believe that circumcision is a human rights violation, but so many people just want to "leave it up to the family".  Personally, I don't think even parents have a right to decide to do this to their baby, but that's me.  Most people would agree that parents have no right to say, give consent to cut off a finger because they say, well he can function okay without it!  I see no difference.