Should I not have my nephew circumcised? - Page 4

[emcare]

I just wanted to write to say that your posts on this topic have brought tears to my eyes. It is an amazing thing that you are doing for these kids. They are all so lucky to have you, especially that little boy who will grow up whole because of the time you took to look into circ.

You, your kids and the rest of your family are in my prayers--I'm sending good vibes--thinking of you, etc.

Please stick around on these boards. It is an amazing place full of kind folks willing to help.

Again, I am so sorry for your loss.

[Stevie]

I too am very sorry for your loss and I applaud you

I think you are very fortunate to have fallen into this particular site Take your time and get all the information you need about all the parenting choices you are looking at and feel free to ask questions as you go.

[gabysmom617]

I've been pulling back the skin to clean it when I change his diaper because the social worker told me to. That's wrong too?

I'm so sorry for your loss. Just got here and haven't read through all the responses yet, don't know if anyone has addressed this question for you yet..

The absolute best thing to do is to leave it alone and wash it just like a finger. The forskin is fused, and does not become retractible until the child is much older, possibly maybe even until puberty or beyond, all of which is perfectly normal. The only person who should be pulling the foreskin back is the child himself, for he will know when he is ready to do this, and no one else (including doctors. Period.) He and only he will know when he is retractible.

Don't worry about it being clean enough. The foreskin is self cleaning, just like a the vagina is self cleaning. Just like you don't need to give a 2 year old girl a douche (or any woman for that matter...) you don't need to pull the skin back and clean it.

Just leave it alone, wash it like a finger when you bathe him, and all will be well, and don't let anyone tell you any differently.

So sorry for your time of loss...

[Susuhound]

i'm so sorry to hear of your loss. I'm adding my admiration to everyone else. You are doing a wonderful thing for those children and they will be grateful to you forever.
FWIW in this country circ is uncommon these days, my DH is intact.And boys don't have any problems. I have been a paediatric nurse for many years and have never had cause to retract a foreskin, actually I've only seen a couple of infants who had been circumcised (it's not 'routine' and is actively advised against by the Aust Paed Ass) of course it's possible to have it done, and some parents still insist. Anyhow...No special treatment is needed. Nothing will happen to it if you just leave it alone. If there is some poo visible when changing a diaper just wipe it away gently, and the bath will take care of the rest.
Good luck.

[hakunangovi]

KHalton - Welcome. I am so sorry for your loss. I would echo everyone elses comments. You are a wonderful person for taking on your sister's family.

I am particularly impressed that in the midst of all the chaos you are researching issues like circumcision. Your nephew will be most grateful that you kept him whole. Circumcising my brothers and I was the single biggest mistake my mother made. God bless her - I know she thought she was doing the right thing - Unfortunately she had been misinformed. Just as the social worker you were dealing with. However, in this day and age, with the internet etc there is not much excuse any more.

[irinam]

Bravo KH and thank you from the bottom of my heart !

Welcome to the boards - there is a wealth of information here, on MANY topics.

Lots of great info here, just wanted to chime in that as a mother of intact boy (ahem, I mean young man) - I/he never had any issues with cleaning or retracting prematurely. Mostly because I was not *mis*informed and out of ignorance just left it alone. This was "ignorance is a bliss" type of thing.

And as a wife of an intact man, how should I phrase it... lets just say - no disappointments there

You are doing right by your boys. Way to go mama