Miller RL, Snyder DC. Immediate circumcision of the newborn male. American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology. 1953:65(1):1-11.
"It is the purpose of this paper to endorse a possibly more suitable time to perform this operation, immediately after the birth of the newborn."
From a list of 9 reasons given in support of immediate circumcision:
"Convenience: Prior to this new plan the circumcisions were performed between the third and seventh days and a line-up on Sunday mornings was routine. It meant an extra trip hospital trip, a good deal of uncomfortable delay between cases, and the resulting traffic problem in the birth rooms was prodigious. Under the present regime, the obstetrician finishes his episiotomy, walks across the hall and circumcises the infant, and is finished with the whole business. The time thus saved for both the physician and the nursing staff is considerable."
"Stimulation of the baby: Frequently following a general anesthetic the newborn is depressed and various stimulants are employed; circumcision unfailingly produces an excellent response in a sleepy baby."
"Pain: Although the pain sense is present at birth, it is much less intense than in later infancy."
Conclusions: "The convenience and time saving afforded both physicians and nurses are considerable; we have not been able to find a doctor who would consider doing it at any other time. The mother signs the circumcision permit when she is admitted to the labor room, the doctor finishs the operation after he has completed his delivery, there is no conflict in the scheduling of cases, and no babies are forgotten and left uncircumcised.
"During 1950 there were 2480 immediate circumcision performed in Akron City Hospital with no demonstrable ill effect on the weight curve, temperature, feeding, healing process, or general well-being of the infants... For these reasons, as well as those of economy, convenience, safety, rapidity of healing, and close hospital observation we feel that immediate circumcision of the newborn male infant might well be more universally adopted."
Gillian
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