Dr. Sears Performs Circumcisions?!?!?

[vermontgirl]

I am posting a new one because the last thread didnt work...

Anyway, in The Baby Book Dr. Sears says something about how he has performed thousands of circumcisions with a local anesthetic and he even quotes, "Painless circumcision should be a birth rite."

What???? NOT being circumcised should be a birth rite. I am very surprised and disapointed that such a great doctor actually performs circumcisions. I wonder if he had his own sons done. :

[titania8]

that is truly shocking. and repulsive.

[Genesis]

Really? For some reason, I thought he says in his books that circumcision is painful and unnecessary.

[Genesis]

Here's an article from askdrsears.com entitled 'DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT TO CIRCUMCISE YOUR BABY BOY' http://www.askdrsears.com/html/1/T012000.asp

Also from that site: http://www.askdrsears.com/html/10/t101500.asp

[SleeplessMommy]

What edition/year of the book are you looking at?

[LavenderMae]

If I'm recalling correctly it used to state the same on the website, well I'm postive it had the "Painless circumcision should be a birth rite" crap on there because it pissed me off.
From the link posted by Genesis that info has since been updated.

[perspective]

wow. that was one of the best "to parent" articles (for mainstream parents) I have ever read on circumcision.

Personally I think parents have no right to decide in the first place. But sadly thats not the country and culture we live in. But at the very least this article dispells the idea that the male body is naturally dirty, but goes beyond that to say that natural male body should be protected.

[Yulia_R]

Originally Posted by Genesis

Really? For some reason, I thought he says in his books that circumcision is painful and unnecessary.

I thought so too...

[Yulia_R]

Originally Posted by Genesis

Also from that site: http://www.askdrsears.com/html/10/t101500.asp

From the link:
Is circumcision a safe procedure?
Circumcision is usually a very safe surgical procedure. There are rarely any complications.

Yeh, right. Safe my a$$ :. How about 70% adhesions, for example?!

What a disapointment ...

[phdmama06]

The edition of the Baby Book I have does state that circumcision is painful and unnecessary (in the Q&A section, where one question is "does it hurt?" and other questions ask about medical benefits to it). But he does go on to say that he has performed a lot of circs, and how he used local anesthetic when he did it. I can't remember if that line about painless circ being a birthright in there. I remember feeling surprised that after the first part of the section, which seemed like it could be anti-circ, he talked about performing circs.

[Genesis]

That really is disappointing.

[Ruthla]

Maybe he performed circs in the past, and then LATER learned that it wasn't necessary?

I mean, he didn't co-sleep with his older kids when they were babies but turned into a huge co-sleeping advocate after doing so with his younger kids. Why shouldn't his stance on other infant-care issues have also changed over time?

[vaughnmama]

Originally Posted by Genesis

Here's an article from askdrsears.com entitled 'DECIDING WHETHER OR NOT TO CIRCUMCISE YOUR BABY BOY' http://www.askdrsears.com/html/1/T012000.asp

Also from that site: http://www.askdrsears.com/html/10/t101500.asp

This is quoted directly from the second link posted above:

"Can baby have anesthesia to lessen the pain?

Yes, a local anesthetic can and should be used. Painless circumcision should be a birthright. I have used a local anesthesia in nearly a thousand babies for over twenty years. It is a safe procedure and it works. Sometimes the anesthetic will not remove all the pain, but it certainly helps. Within a few hours, after the anesthetic wears off, some babies exhibit no discomfort; others will fuss for the next twenty-four hours. The most common and effective method is called a dorsal penile nerve block, in which a few drops of Xylocaine (similar to the anesthetic your dentist uses) is injected into the nerves on each side of the penis circumferentially around the base of the penis. "

I was pretty disappointed with the article overall, it seemed to have a positive spin for those parents who still decide to go forward with circumcision. Like it's ok to do it, it's your choice. He glossed over the complications and the affects to the baby. And he seemed to go out of his way to make a "balanced" article, and leave it up in the air:

"Even the American Academy of Pediatrics is off and on again about the foreskin. In 1983, the AAP issued an opinion that "routine circumcision is medically unnecessary." Because of recent and controversial studies among uncircumcised males, this large and respected body of pediatricians is now reconsidering its opinion. There will be more studies, more opinions, and I would guess that years down the road the fate of the foreskin will still be uncertain."

But I suppose this is what might appeal to "mainstream" parents who want an "unbiased" source.

[kldliam]

How strange that the "Father of Attachment Parenting" does not advocate leaving the foreskin attached. There is something really wrong with that.

[Fi.]

It's called money.

[phatchristy]

Originally Posted by Fi.

It's called money.

I believe that his two ped sons are very much against circumcision. I vaguely remember reading that one. Which is why some things have changed recently on the web site.

[Fi.]

His sons, yes. Him, no.