advise needed, foreskin pulled back

[bluebirdiemama]

hello. I am new here, signed up because while doing a search about what to do for my bear I found tons of useful info here. However none pertaining exactly to my situation, hence the post.
I was told I need to pull back the foreskin at ever diaper change and so tried, a couple times.... and now we have a very red foreskin, inflamed though now infected, i dont think. Sort of scabby-ish-ness on the outside. It looks very painful.
I am using tea with spearmint, as a compress and orally, for the pain. Also has catnip and calendula. Was using tea tree oil but that hurt him very badly so I stopped, now using tea made with Lapacho bark to try to keep it clean.

Is there anything else I can do for him, besides the many baths and exposing it to air?

[Quirky]

I would actually say, do less, not more. Baths can be drying and chapping, and over-exposing to the air can be drying, too. His body will heal itself if you just give it some time. Apply some breastmilk if you can, but other than that don't put a lot of stuff on there, as you just don't know what's going to be soothing and what's not.

Hope he feels better -- and I hope you will educate whoever gave you that EXTREMELY bad advice about retraction!

[thixle]

I agree with Quirky 100%
Just let it heal. Maybe a little baking soda in the bath tub, a squirt of breastmilk... otherwise, leave it alone.
babies heal amazingly fast all on their own.

oh, and don't go back to the doc that told you that

[Fyrestorm]

Let it heal!! Never Never Never retract his foreskin...that is just asking for these kinds of problems. If you were told to do this by care provider (ped or nurse) they are sorely misinformed.

You might want to educate them! Here is a link to the intact care agreement. You want to be sure that no one not even his doc who 'just wants to take a peek' retracts your son.

Here is a link for you:

http://www.mothersagainstcirc.org/care.htm

Hope he feels better soon and

[bluebirdiemama]

Ok, thanks a lot mamas. I think that's what the scabbing must be, dryness. And I didn't even think to squirt some breastmilk on it!
And you know, the advise came from both an article I read on how to care for an uncirc. baby, and our last doc... how are people so terribly misinformed?!

[Fyrestorm]

Originally Posted by bluebirdiemama

how are people so terribly misinformed?!

Because doctors in this country only know one thing about foreskin....how to cut it off!

[MommytoB]

Originally Posted by bluebirdiemama

Ok, thanks a lot mamas. I think that's what the scabbing must be, dryness. And I didn't even think to squirt some breastmilk on it!
And you know, the advise came from both an article I read on how to care for an uncirc. baby, and our last doc... how are people so terribly misinformed?!

people haven't updated the 'medical textbooks so 'ever nurse and doctor to be will be told they have to 'do foreskin 'meatus' checks and telling parents they 'need ' to clean under there even though aap stopped recommending that advice in 99 so I just wondering when are colleges & med school stop giving 'bad advice' .

We would have to 'end the lack of knowledge on foreskin and wasn't there a few people who took 'medical transcriptionist class and there were foreskin problems in the book and the student questioned it but she just laughed at it 'stating' it was nothing we need to worry about because the proffessor actually said all men were 'circ'ed' and the 'health anatomy of 'male' gives off not accurate foreskin diagrams and missing half the information foreskin actually contains

[veganf]

Like others have said, just leave it alone and let it heal. Poor little guy, it amazes me how misinformed so many doctors are in this country. :

[Fellow Traveler]

Originally Posted by bluebirdiemama

Ok, thanks a lot mamas. I think that's what the scabbing must be, dryness. And I didn't even think to squirt some breastmilk on it!
And you know, the advise came from both an article I read on how to care for an uncirc. baby, and our last doc... how are people so terribly misinformed?!

That is unfortunate, it seem that many doctors continue to give out really old, and bad, advice on this issue. You've already got a couple of responses but I don't think I saw links to resources so here you are:

http://www.nocirc.org/publish/4pam.pdf

http://www.cirp.org/library/normal/aap/

You might want to pass them along to your doctor if you can. The bottom line is that retraction is not necessary and shouldn't be done by anyone but the boy, medical staff included. I suspect if you leave things be they will return to normal. Congratulations BTW on leaving your son intact. He will be grateful.

[bluebirdiemama]

Well thanks for the info and the great sites. I feel so bad for not looking up the proper information on this before acting, and Im glad as hell we dont see that doctor anymore.
However. I am so glad Ive finally learn about the intact penis. We opted out just because it is so barbaric, but now we know why we should take pride in our decision, and we have some interesting information to share with our family members who think it is FUN to criticize our son.
BTW- the babe is doing very well. He is still a little sore but pretty well back to normal

[Fellow Traveler]

Originally Posted by bluebirdiemama

Well thanks for the info and the great sites. I feel so bad for not looking up the proper information on this before acting, and Im glad as hell we dont see that doctor anymore.
However. I am so glad Ive finally learn about the intact penis. We opted out just because it is so barbaric, but now we know why we should take pride in our decision, and we have some interesting information to share with our family members who think it is FUN to criticize our son.
BTW- the babe is doing very well. He is still a little sore but pretty well back to normal

Your welcome. Defiantly take pride in this and please do share this information with your family and friends. It's the only way this stops. Why would family criticize your son? Ask them to come up with one rational excuse to circumcise, don't worry they can't.