Got really emotional at my birthing class...

[funfunkyfantastic]

I'm taking a free birthing class at the pregnancy resource center in my area. It's a 6 week series and yesterday was the class on newborn hospital procedures. Of course when it came to the circumcision part they did not present both sides of the argument. They mostly just talked about how much it would cost and how insurance may not cover it. The teacher was pretty open about people asking questions, so of course I had to.

I bravely raised my hand and asked "What are some reasons why mothers might choose not to circumcise?"
She answered "The number one reason is that they think it will cause unnecessary pain."
Knowing this not to be the whole truth I went fishing to see if she knew of any other reasons. She did not.
So, I asked "May I add another reason for not circumcising?"
She said I could.

This was the hard part... I told about the fact that the foreskin actually serves a purpose: to protect the glands and sensitive nerves on the penis. I said that when the foreskin is removed, that layer of skin is no longer there to protect that very sensitive area. In order to protect itself, the body then toughens up the skin in that area and adds man more layers to try to protect the glands and nerves. This of course decreases the amount of sensitivity that can be felt by a circumcised penis.

I swear... I felt my throat closing up with emotion... and I seriously almost cried. Is it wrong for me to want these woman to be informed before they cause irreversible damage to their sons?

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

of course it isnt wrong you are very brave to talk about it knowing how some people react. I am very proud of you and you should be very proud of yourself as well.

[GoodMomma]

I think you did an awesome job!!! SOMEONE has to inform these soon to be moms!

[Kylix]

What was the reaction of the other people in the class?

[LavenderMae]

No, you aren't wrong at all (now circ is 100% wrong) and you did good!!

[tennisdude23]

Good job in your response. Here is the main reason why people all over the world don't. Because it's FREAKING COMPLETELY UNNECESSARY. THERE IS NO POINT TO IT. Seriously, that should be the main thing out of instructors' mouths. It's the most obvious reason.

[mjg013]

Good for you for speaking up and doing it diplomatically. I'm afraid I feel so strongly I probably would have been escorted from the class for going on a diatribe.

[Night_Nurse]

I'm proud of you! Thank you for speaking up on behalf of those babies!
You might contact NoCirc and see if they will send the instructor of that class their free childbirth educator dvd.
If it comes up in class again you might want to encourage the parents to view a circ video online.

[Fellow Traveler]

That was excellent; you did a fantastic job. It takes courage to stand up like that you should be proud of yourself. I second night nurse's suggestion perhaps they would be interested in some nocirc educational material.

[funfunkyfantastic]

Originally Posted by Kylix

What was the reaction of the other people in the class?

Everyone basically just stared at me... and then the instructor paused and said "Well, it's still a personal decision you all have to make..." and on she went about other newborn procedures.

I think i just barely heard the lady next to me whisper to her boyfriend that she was planning to do circumcision. Sadly, this was the one other person in the whole class planning an out of hospital birth besides myself.

I think the biggest argument most of them had (in their minds) for circumcision was keeping the penis clean. I honestly don't think it can possibly be that hard to keep a little penis clean. lol. Somehow my husband made it through life with a clean penis. Not sure how, he isn't the cleanest guy in the world. In fact, some days I have to remind him to shower! Now, if he can keep his penis clean, surely these parents shouldn't have a problem keeping their son's penises clean. Geeze.

[bluetoes]

Ugh infant care classes. We took one. They spent like two minutes on everything else but the part about taking care of a circ'ed penis and the instructor said 90% of boys are circ'ed at that hospital. I then raised my hand and said 'and so what do you do with an intact penis?' She said 'you just wipe it.' That seems much easier I said. Oh I could have gone on a real rant but didn't. She showed us a bunch of big pictures of after birth stuff but skipped the circ ones even though they were graphic enough to keep anyone with any sort of heart from torturing their child like that.

[funfunkyfantastic]

She showed us a bunch of big pictures of after birth stuff but skipped the circ ones even though they were graphic enough to keep anyone with any sort of heart from torturing their child like that.

Yeah, she wouldn't show ones of the "actual circumcision" but she showed the baby being strapped down. She reassured all the moms in there that "when you hear your baby screaming, it's not because of the circumcision, it's because he's really mad at being strapped down." Riiiight. And you wouldn't be mad if someone were cutting off your genitals? lol.

[iamama]

Reminds me of a great quote...'speak your mind...even when your lips quiver"

[tennisdude23]

Originally Posted by funfunkyfantastic

Everyone basically just stared at me... and then the instructor paused and said "Well, it's still a personal decision you all have to make..." and on she went about other newborn procedures.

I think i just barely heard the lady next to me whisper to her boyfriend that she was planning to do circumcision. Sadly, this was the one other person in the whole class planning an out of hospital birth besides myself.

I think the biggest argument most of them had (in their minds) for circumcision was keeping the penis clean. I honestly don't think it can possibly be that hard to keep a little penis clean. lol. Somehow my husband made it through life with a clean penis. Not sure how, he isn't the cleanest guy in the world. In fact, some days I have to remind him to shower! Now, if he can keep his penis clean, surely these parents shouldn't have a problem keeping their son's penises clean. Geeze.

I see you are in Washington State. It has one of the lowest circumcision rates in the country. It's very possible that half or more of the parents were not even considering circumcision. It would be sort of difficult to judge what these parents were thinking, and those that were on the fence, you might have persuaded to research this further. So, all seems rather productive. Oh, I would spoken out when she talked about them screaming because of "strapping them down." Ignorant remarks like that just really bother me.

[Nandi]

I'm so glad you spoke up.

[Microsoap]

Originally Posted by funfunkyfantastic

Yeah, she wouldn't show ones of the "actual circumcision" but she showed the baby being strapped down. She reassured all the moms in there that "when you hear your baby screaming, it's not because of the circumcision, it's because he's really mad at being strapped down." Riiiight. And you wouldn't be mad if someone were cutting off your genitals? lol.

And would she say the same thing if it were a baby girl who was strapped down and had her clitoral hood cut off? Oh, but, wait... that would insanity!

I can't take this UA violation anymore and WON'T let people get away w/ saying this. If I make a scene or make someone feel bad or the person who said it look stupid, well, UA violation them! ("They cry because they're strapped down") ISN'T TRUE!!!!!!!!

[LavenderMae]

I don't know maybe they scream because it hurts like hell to have part of your penis ripped and cut off, oh no that can't possibly be it.

I would have had a fit right then and there.

[hakunangovi]

Rachel, good for you for saying something. I know it is often difficult to think quickly enough, but when your instuctor said that "it is a decision that you all have to make" , an appropriate response might have been "Shouldn't that be a decision for the owner of the penis to make???" Somehow way too many people fail to see the lack of ethics in forcing unneccessary, cosmetic surgery on someone else who has not, and cannot yet consent to it.

I think making a gift to the instructor of NOCIRC's video is a wonderful idea. It sounds like you know a whole lot more than she does about circumcision.

Each time you speak up it gets easier. Kudos to you!!

[guestmama9922]

i'm so glad you said what you wanted to!

i took an intense day of classes when i was pregnant with my first.
when it came time to discuss circumcision, my husband (who is english and intact) and i spoke right up.
the teacher looked visibly releived! she ended up putting on a video showing a circ. some men left before even seeing it.
i thought it was brilliant and hoped that it changed some of their minds.
most of the reasons given for circing in this class were 'so he'll look like daddy'.
if anything is more stupid than that.

[tammyswanson]

I think that is GREAT you spoke up like that! It's a shame they have ignorant uneducated people conducting classes like that.

You are awesome for having courage to tell them what *really* happens, as far as decreased sensitivity.

Like I always tell myself, "silence implies consent"..that's why I will never shut up about how wrong circ is!