(Sorry- I didn't realize how long this would be, but I had to share with someone who wouldn't think I am the crazy one!)
Okay, for background- I am expecting my first son (after 2 DDs) this April. My sister, after waiting four years, was placed with a son this past December. I waited with her for the last two days (travel time) while her son was on his way to her, and figured I might as well bring up the circumcision issue. (Sister is VERY mainstream- completely obsessed with "what will people think / say") She hadn't even considered it, but by the time the baby arrived, she had decided that if it wasn't done, she wouldn't do it. Well, Nephew arrived, beautiful, perfect, and intact. I went home and left her to prepare for Christmas (this was just a few days before.)
Anyway, the next day she called and told me, "I wouldn't even consider telling your doctor that you don't want to circumcise if I were you- Baby had his first doctor visit today and when I mentioned I was thinking about leaving him intact, he freaked out. He says he has seen 'WAY too many infections' and performed tons of circumcisions on adults with problems to think about not doing it." End of story, she had scheduled his circumcision the next week. I assured her my pediatrician had already let me know that there was no reason to circumcise other than personal preference and was very supportive and Sister acted like I was lying.
Sure enough, the next week the deed was done. And the doctor told them afterwards, "It sure was good you got that done now. There was tons of white fluid under the foreskin- that was infection that we had to get out." And Sister, who never bothers to question what doctor tells her, again looks at me like I am lying when I try to explain about smegma. Her attitude is that he is the doctor, he knows all! So frustrating.
The worst part is that Nephew seems to have undergone a complete personality transformation. The two weeks before circumcision, he was happy and easygoing- since then he fusses ALL the time. The circumcision is "healed" and yet he still fusses.
The final straw is that Sister called me last week and said that she had just taken baby to the doctor for check-up and immunizations. I asked how he had handled the shots and she said, "Well, they weren't that bad. He only really cried when they had to pull back the extra skin around his circumcision and clean under it with alcohol!" What the heck! I told her that if there is any foreskin left, retracting it would feel like a fingernail being pulled back. She said, "Yeah, I know- that's why I can't believe you aren't circumcising your baby, because my doctor says if you don't do it you have to pull it back and clean under it with alcohol every day!"
Sorry this got so long, but I can't believe how stupid doctors can be. Shouldn't they at least be aware of basic infant care? It scares the crap out of me because I live in a tiny small town where 99.999% of babies are circumcised, so I'm nervous that someone will mess with my son in the hospital. Not that they will actually circ. him, but that they will try to "clean" him. I am afraid I will have to be very pushy and forward, but what about when I can't be there? (Immediately after delivery only- afterwards I will keep him with me.) Any suggestions?
Thanks for letting me vent! Also, any good basic info I could print and send to sister would be great!
Melissa
Okay, for background- I am expecting my first son (after 2 DDs) this April. My sister, after waiting four years, was placed with a son this past December. I waited with her for the last two days (travel time) while her son was on his way to her, and figured I might as well bring up the circumcision issue. (Sister is VERY mainstream- completely obsessed with "what will people think / say") She hadn't even considered it, but by the time the baby arrived, she had decided that if it wasn't done, she wouldn't do it. Well, Nephew arrived, beautiful, perfect, and intact. I went home and left her to prepare for Christmas (this was just a few days before.)
Anyway, the next day she called and told me, "I wouldn't even consider telling your doctor that you don't want to circumcise if I were you- Baby had his first doctor visit today and when I mentioned I was thinking about leaving him intact, he freaked out. He says he has seen 'WAY too many infections' and performed tons of circumcisions on adults with problems to think about not doing it." End of story, she had scheduled his circumcision the next week. I assured her my pediatrician had already let me know that there was no reason to circumcise other than personal preference and was very supportive and Sister acted like I was lying.
Sure enough, the next week the deed was done. And the doctor told them afterwards, "It sure was good you got that done now. There was tons of white fluid under the foreskin- that was infection that we had to get out." And Sister, who never bothers to question what doctor tells her, again looks at me like I am lying when I try to explain about smegma. Her attitude is that he is the doctor, he knows all! So frustrating.
The worst part is that Nephew seems to have undergone a complete personality transformation. The two weeks before circumcision, he was happy and easygoing- since then he fusses ALL the time. The circumcision is "healed" and yet he still fusses.
The final straw is that Sister called me last week and said that she had just taken baby to the doctor for check-up and immunizations. I asked how he had handled the shots and she said, "Well, they weren't that bad. He only really cried when they had to pull back the extra skin around his circumcision and clean under it with alcohol!" What the heck! I told her that if there is any foreskin left, retracting it would feel like a fingernail being pulled back. She said, "Yeah, I know- that's why I can't believe you aren't circumcising your baby, because my doctor says if you don't do it you have to pull it back and clean under it with alcohol every day!"
Sorry this got so long, but I can't believe how stupid doctors can be. Shouldn't they at least be aware of basic infant care? It scares the crap out of me because I live in a tiny small town where 99.999% of babies are circumcised, so I'm nervous that someone will mess with my son in the hospital. Not that they will actually circ. him, but that they will try to "clean" him. I am afraid I will have to be very pushy and forward, but what about when I can't be there? (Immediately after delivery only- afterwards I will keep him with me.) Any suggestions?
Thanks for letting me vent! Also, any good basic info I could print and send to sister would be great!
Melissa
: Oh my dear Lord! Unfreakingreal! I don't even know what to say!
someone needs to take a potato peeler to that guy's penis and then "clean" it with alcohol. 
) the last person to ask was our contact person from the agency 
"Is his circ going to be done in the morning then?" I was glad to get him outta there!
