I managed to talk (with a little help but I supplied most of the information) my first Doula couple out of circumcising their perfect little bundle of baby boy! Isn't that wonderful?
The mom was leaning more towards circ'ing so I focused on her. The hubby struck me as more complacent, like he would go along with whatever she wanted. Her first reason to have him circumcised was that "it's commanded in the Old Testament". I was prepared for this reason and reminded her that Jesus* died as the final sacrifice so God no longer needed foreskins. To my amazement she wanted to circ not because of that, but because she thought that it was commanded by God so it just has to be right, no matter what. I was at a loss of words for that.
But fortunately, she wanted to talk to me more about it. It helps that DH and I have our 10 m/o intact, and that I'm very verbal about being anti-circ. I just kept reminding her that it was an elective surgery on her newborn, that it can be done later but not undone (unless he wanted to regrow), gave them information about the function of the foreskin on the baby and adult. Also reminded them of how they literally rip the skin off the newborn.
Sad thing, the poor husband is circ'd--they told me--and he seemed saddened by his own loss. Poor guy.
~Nay, so happy!
* I am not religious--atheist actually, but man, does it help to have a working knowledge of the Bible for situations like these!
