The word "retract"

[LianneM]

We had our first ped appt yesterday, and saw the NP. Of course I was scared to death that she would try to retract him, but I didn't want to come out sounding like I thought she didn't know what she was doing, so when she checked in his diaper I just watched like a hawk :LOL

So she's checking him out and she says to me, "You retract him, right?" OMG!!! I was dumbfounded and finally said, "NO!" She said, "Oh, you need to retract him to keep it clean."

I was in shock. This wasn't happening. I was thisclose to telling her to get her hands off of my son.

So she saw my face and then she said, "I don't mean ALL the way. Just the very end, to make sure it's clean and not blocked so he can pee."

Um. Well it is clean. And believe me, he has such a spray that I can't imagine anything being stuck, but anyway, we do make sure it's clean.

So I said that we do make sure it's clean, and that I did think she meant retracting it all the way back. She said, "No way! You should never do that!" which made me feel a LITTLE better, I guess.

But WHY use the word retract? She didn't retract it. To me, retracting is completely exposing the glans. Right?

[whateverdidiwants]

No - retracting is pulling the foreskin back to *any* degree. The glans does not have to be exposed.

[LianneM]

Hmm ok. Thanks.

It still doesn't make sense to me, though. It's my understanding that I don't have to pull it back AT ALL. Just "clean it like a finger"

[AllyRae]

RUN from that doctor... Bran's doctor started the same way today, and within seconds, he had ripped the foreskin so far that Bran was bleeding...

[calngavinsmom]

Hi there. You are absolutely right! You are not supposed to "retract"(pull the foreskin towards the body) at all! In no way shape or form. That NP was dead wrong.

If anything did happen to "get up there"(which I highly doubt) the force of the urine stream would quickly wash it right back out. And urine is sterile so it seems that he already has the perfect self-cleaning system!

Here are a couple of links to articles that explain the proper care of the intact penis/penile development ect.

http://www.cirp.org/library/normal/aap/
http://www.cirp.org/library/normal/
http://www.nocirc.org/publish/4pam.pdf

Intact care agreement
http://www.circumcisionquotes.com/care.html

The mothering article in the sticky ath the top of the forum is an excellent resource too!

Hope this helps,
Take care,
Tara

[Frankly Speaking]

In this context, "retract" means pulling on the foreskin to any degree that would cause any stretching of the foreskin opening. In an older, at least partially retractile child or an adult, it would mean pulling the foreskin back enough to expose a significant portion of the glans.

From your description, it sounds like the NP did no harm but what she did was also unnecessary and without purpose. She was only a half heart beat away from a forcible retraction that would be so quick that there would be no way to stop it. The danger is that when your son is older, she will do a full forcible retraction. Just gather up your courage and tell her and the doctor not to touch your son's penis under any circumstances and for any reason without a full discussion with you first.



Frank

[namith]

The doctor doesn't need to retract it at all. Neither do you, or anyone but your son, unless you know that there is something wrong, then its beyond my knowledge. He should start cleaning under it at puberty.