Someone please tell me why I didn't circumsize my son

[justme&my3+1]

I know, weird title. But seriously, this is my second son, the first I curcumsised and felt guilty later. Sometime last year I was here on MDC and lurking the posts, like I do daily and came across a post here in this group with a video on youtube of a doctor doing a circumsision and the baby screamed and screamed and I cried. I felt horrible and kept thinking about my son who at that time was 4 years old.

Fast forward to this February when I found out I was pregnant. One of the first things I thought about was if it's a boy I will not circ.

He is a little over a month old and I have had 3 different doctors, my pedi, and family members ask me why I didn't circ him. All I can think of to say is "because I didn't want him to go through the pain". Boy can people come up with some crazy reasons as to why that "little bit of pain" is nothing.

I wish I had a more informed answer to say to everyone. I feel dumb when I answer, and have even doubted my descision because of it.

So please, tell me why you didn't circ your son so I know I did something better for him than "just save him a little bit of pain"

[inky leeuhhh]

i don't have a son (yet), but i think i would just tell people i didn't see a reason for it. it isn't really anyone elses business anyway, ya know? im sure someone on here will have some more specific info for you, lol. i just wanted to throw that in there.

[Blucactus]

Because there was no reason to. You believe in leaving children with the genitals they were born with and it's too bad that it's so culturally ingrained here (USA) bc people would be HORRIFIED if the roles were reversed and it was FGM.

[SleeplessMommy]

* to protect his bodily integrity:

* to maximize his adult sexual pleasure

* to protect him from risk of harm (pain, infection, adhesions, etc)

* because you believe surrogate consent (parental consent) is not sufficient to remove normal, healthy tissue.

[l_olive]

How about because it's barbaric to cut someone's genitals? I guess I never needed any other reason.

[eepster]

How about "B/c I couldn't think of any reason why I would."

They may then attempt to provide those reasons, but all of them are very lame, and easily countered with accurate information.

[lovemybubus]

"So please, tell me why you didn't circ your son so I know I did something better for him than "just save him a little bit of pain"[/QUOTE]

I think that right there is a perfectly good reason, sure there are others, but it's every mother's responsibility to protect their children from needless pain. I think you made a wise decision, and good for you!

[DreamsInDigital]

The more important question is "Why SHOULD a parent circumcise their son?"

For me personally, and hopefully the large majority of parents reading here on MDC, the answer is "There is no good, compelling reason to do it." Therefore, without sufficient evidence in favor of circumcision, the default choice should be to not do it.

[justme&my3+1]

Maybe it's the accurate information that I am lacking. I really don't know much about why and why not circ. I should do some more research about it, I just wanted to see what you guys say when you are asked the same question.

Thanks for the input so far There have been some really great reasons pointed out to me!

[Cutie Patootie]

Circumcision is protocol...that's about it. It came about due to religious reasoning, and then stuck as a big money maker for those who care nothing for the religious end of it. Why would God, mother nature, the universe create every male baby with a body part that needs to be amputated?

Okay...so maybe you can just say, "his body, his decision"...instead of the ranting above.

[Cutie Patootie]

Actually, if a doctor or ped asked me that question, I would look at them all shocked and say, "goodness, you're a doctor! Don't you know???"

[littlemizflava]

my reasons are....
its not broken therefor does not need to be "fixed".
why is it bad for girls but ok for boys?!?
that is the way he was made.
that is the way a boy is to be.
it is wrong to do a circ at all.
why mess with something that has such a huge part of our lives. sex is huge and it is has horrible outcomes for males and females.

my personal fav and ya i do use it all the time
:sex is beter with a whole man then a cut one:

[Fay]

Because I believe that medically unnecessary, cosmetic, for-profit surgery on non-consenting infants is unethical. I also believe that genital mutilation is generally a bad idea.

I've had some interesting conversations with doctors on this subject...my OB asked politely if I circumcised my sons, and I responded, "No, because it's medically unnecessary." My OB then went into an anti-circ monologue, and told me how he had refused to circ his beloved DS, too. Totally made my day!

[JBaxter]

Because God made him perfect so who am I to cut of a piece of this perfect little boy?

Then follow up with WHY are you obcessed about my baby's penis?

[jyurina]

Because I believe ALL children have the right to intact genitals

[Cujobunny]

It's not tactful, but I'm a fan of "I didn't hack off any of his body parts!"

That ends the conversation rather abruptly

[angelachristin]

I haven't had this question because I regrettably did circ my first (and so far, only DS) but if I am ever blessed with another son I would NEVER circ knowing what I know now (thanks to MDC!) and if/when I am asked I will tell them that I believe that removing another person's body parts without their consent for NO REASON is morally reprehensible.

[bmcneal]

For DH and I, it is partially religiously based. According to the New Testament (and I'll have to do more research to find exactly where), circumcision is no longer required.

I also think the "I don't want my baby going through that kind of *unnecessary* pain." should suffice.

And just the fact that I migh find something "wrong" with my baby (the foreskin).... just doesn't sit right with me. Also there's the no logical/medical reason to circumcise thing.

[Red Sonja]

Because my son has just as much of a right to genital integrity as my daughters do.

Because it's his body, he gets to decide what to do with it.

Because it's just (extremely painful) cosmetic surgery.

[MCatLvrMom2A&X]

Because it wasnt my penis to cut on.

Because there is absolutly no medical reason to circ and healthy infant.

Because the thought of a Dr choosing how my ds penis will look makes me sick to my stomach.

Because of the horrible pain.

Because he was born perfect no alterations needed.

Because over 20,000 specialized nerve endings are forever lost.

I could go on and on and on.

Since you said you dont know much have you read the stickies about not allowing anyone to mess with his foreskin? it is very important to protect him from that as it can cause many of the infections and problems with the intact penis to begin with.