pressure to circumcise - Page 3

[Night_Nurse]

Oh, and Lindi, I forgot to mention you most likely will be pressured either by your doctor or the hospital to circumcise. They make a lot of money that way. Every intact child is less money in their pocket. Cynical, but true.
You will most likely avoid much of this if you birth at home. But if you birth in the hospital, be prepared. Write "DO NOT CIRCUMCISE" all over the isolette/bassinet. Ask the nurse if they will tattoo that on your child's crotch. When they look at you like you're insane say "What???? It's crazy to tattoo a baby but you're willing to cut off his penis???". The nurse will then go back to the nursery and tell the other nurses about your conversation. You will not get asked if you want to circ again!

[ericswifey27]

The only opposition I faced was with my husband, who is now on board, with both of our sons intact. The hospital did not pressure us to circumcize, in fact that is the only thing they honored off my birth plan, thank god for that.

I haven't had any negative comments actually. A lot of mamas who have circed their boys notice when I change him, and it sparks conversation. I just keep it civil and matter of fact: It's not neccessary, the surgery is painful and it's pretty common for kids to be intact today so I am not worried about my sons feeling different, and leave it at that, unless they ask more... just a little seed being planted I hope, you know and I totally believe that you catch more flies with honey than vinegar

[Greg B]

Originally Posted by Night_Nurse

Oh, and Lindi, I forgot to mention you most likely will be pressured either by your doctor or the hospital to circumcise. They make a lot of money that way. Every intact child is less money in their pocket. Cynical, but true.
You will most likely avoid much of this if you birth at home. But if you birth in the hospital, be prepared. Write "DO NOT CIRCUMCISE" all over the isolette/bassinet. Ask the nurse if they will tattoo that on your child's crotch. When they look at you like you're insane say "What???? It's crazy to tattoo a baby but you're willing to cut off his penis???". The nurse will then go back to the nursery and tell the other nurses about your conversation. You will not get asked if you want to circ again!

Great suggestion, love the tattoo method, grin.

I will simply add that you also should be prepared for pressure at birth. I could not beleive that our doctor, at the moment just after I cut the umbilical cord, began pressuring me to have our son RIC. My wife was out of it, so doesn't even remember this. This was after several conversations leading up to birth where I said no, even though at the time I had no idea why. And he didn't just ask yet one more time....

He paced, his body language was very pressuring, his tone of voice, he kept trying to get me to change my mind. His thing seemed to be the "he will look different thing". After the stress of labor and lack of sleep, i could feel a lot of pressure. I finally told him that i had a beard, but was not planning to glue hair to my childs chin.

But this made me realize that a lot of other parents may yeild to the pressure at this weak moment. Fortunately I am a stubborn son of a gun that has little use for titles, etc.

Forwarned, is forearmed....or should I say foreskinned?

Regards

[lindi dfw]

Originally Posted by Night_Nurse

Oh, and Lindi, I forgot to mention you most likely will be pressured either by your doctor or the hospital to circumcise. They make a lot of money that way. Every intact child is less money in their pocket. Cynical, but true.
You will most likely avoid much of this if you birth at home. But if you birth in the hospital, be prepared. Write "DO NOT CIRCUMCISE" all over the isolette/bassinet. Ask the nurse if they will tattoo that on your child's crotch. When they look at you like you're insane say "What???? It's crazy to tattoo a baby but you're willing to cut off his penis???". The nurse will then go back to the nursery and tell the other nurses about your conversation. You will not get asked if you want to circ again!

I am considering a home birth or maybe birthing center. I think hospitals are too pushy with parents and women. They make money off all these procedures, that is the problem. I recently read about one woman who was given an episiotomy without her consent. To me, giving patients procedures they haven't consented to is almost like rape.

[lindi dfw]

Originally Posted by Greg B

Great suggestion, love the tattoo method, grin.

I finally told him that i had a beard, but was not planning to glue hair to my childs chin.

Regards

that was a good comeback for that doctor!

[2girlsand2boys]

My mother actually introduced my son to her mother by saying, "this is Marek Scott. He isn't (insert EWWWW face here!) circumcised!" Nothing has changed since.

Just ignore the naysayers. Do what you feel is right.

[perspective]

Originally Posted by 2girlsand2boys

My mother actually introduced my son to her mother by saying, "this is Marek Scott. He isn't (insert EWWWW face here!) circumcised!" Nothing has changed since.

Just ignore the naysayers. Do what you feel is right.

If my mother acts like that to a future son of mine, I will tell her point blank "If you are so disgusted by your grandson, you dont have to see him at all."

That would make me so angry. I would she feel if you introduced her to your husband for the first time and said, "This is my mother, she has a natural vagina, she is disgusting."

[lindi dfw]

I don't know if I could handle a grandparent acting that way about my child. There are just certain things we expect from grandparents. But the child's genitals are none of anyone's business anyway. I expect people will ask me the question but I would prefer not to answer it. I certainly don't discuss my genitals with people.

[MommytoB]

Mom thought my boy was going to be so prone to infections all the time she did at one time thought it was weird but of course that was the only foreskin she saw . she quieted once my uncle said he wished he still had a foreskin so he would know what is missing but others had no pressure

[rmzbm]

Originally Posted by perspective

If my mother acts like that to a future son of mine, I will tell her point blank "If you are so disgusted by your grandson, you dont have to see him at all."

That would make me so angry. I would she feel if you introduced her to your husband for the first time and said, "This is my mother, she has a natural vagina, she is disgusting."

:

[cherri0196]

Its a tuff one because i like to take the opportunity to educate people on it but if your not comfortable with discussing it while preggo (adn sometimes the emotions can get the best of us) then i would just say its something you would prefer not to discuss. Just stand your ground don't let anyone pressure you into it.

I know the feeling of people turning their nose's up at it but its none of their buisness and your doing the right thing keeping your baby intact (weather boy or girl) if you need any reassurance you know where to find us :-)

Good luck, happy and healthy 9 months.....well how ever long you have left :-P

[Getz]

Originally Posted by jocelyndale

Nobody dared mention it to me, probably because I would go on frequent rants about willy whacking and cruelty and genital integrity. I think everyone was scared of me.

Ditto!

[KMK_Mama]

My Mom's reaction when she found out we were not circumcising...."ewww Robyn that is so disgusting." My MIL just tried telling me that it's cleaner to have them circumcised, etc. I have since turned them both around. My Mom is dating an intact man now, and my MIL helped me educate my SIL on the subject, who in turn decided not to circumcise her son. Just stick to your guns. Who cares what they think really.