This is the first pregnancy book I read when I was expecting my first. It was also the first thing I ever read about circumcision. Obviously, after reading that, I knew I would never do such a thing to my baby.
Great Book!
So, I remember a thread not too long ago that discussed disappointment with a Mothering article that touched on circ and was sort of wishy-washy. (I didn't catch it myself, but I empathized with everyone's frustration.)
Anyway, many people were wondering what magazine or book would be good/best to lend to or purchase for pregnant friends. My vote is The Complete Book of PREGNANCY & CHILDBIRTH, by Sheila Kitzinger.
The information on circumcision provided is relatively brief, but it is extremely anti. I'm going to give a few quotes and provide a summary so as not to cause copyright-issues.
She begins with, "Circumcision is an unnecessary operation. It can be dangerous, too." (She follows this with some of the more frightening risks, like excessive bleeding, infection, irreparable damage, and death.)
She moves on to, "Newborn babies feel pain. In fact, they may feel it more acutely than adults. An adult knows that the pain caused by an operation will end. A baby cannot know this."
She explains few doctors still defend circumcision as medically necessary and theorizes about why they have been slow to criticize it. She talks about circumcised men wanting to circumcised sons because they don't feel it did they any harm and mentions social conformity issues. She even touches on and compares some of the reasoning between male circ and FGM.
She gives brief (but accurate) information on foreskin functions and care.
She discourages religious circ and encourages alternative, cut-free baby naming ceremonies.
The quote she highlights for the page is, "WE WERE UNDER PRESSURE FROM OUR PARENTS TO CIRCUMICSE HIM. WE DID RESEARCH AND DECIDED WE COULD NOT DO THIS TO OUR CHILD."
Woo-hoo!
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And Sheila's books are always filled with lots of great illustrations and pictures. (Not of circ, but of all sorts of other things like a healthy placenta, newborn assessment, comfort measures during labor, labor positions, waterbirth, and more...)
I'm only halfway through it, but it's great. I encourage everybody to check it out.
Jen
Anyway, many people were wondering what magazine or book would be good/best to lend to or purchase for pregnant friends. My vote is The Complete Book of PREGNANCY & CHILDBIRTH, by Sheila Kitzinger.
The information on circumcision provided is relatively brief, but it is extremely anti. I'm going to give a few quotes and provide a summary so as not to cause copyright-issues.
She begins with, "Circumcision is an unnecessary operation. It can be dangerous, too." (She follows this with some of the more frightening risks, like excessive bleeding, infection, irreparable damage, and death.)
She moves on to, "Newborn babies feel pain. In fact, they may feel it more acutely than adults. An adult knows that the pain caused by an operation will end. A baby cannot know this."
She explains few doctors still defend circumcision as medically necessary and theorizes about why they have been slow to criticize it. She talks about circumcised men wanting to circumcised sons because they don't feel it did they any harm and mentions social conformity issues. She even touches on and compares some of the reasoning between male circ and FGM.
She gives brief (but accurate) information on foreskin functions and care.
She discourages religious circ and encourages alternative, cut-free baby naming ceremonies.
The quote she highlights for the page is, "WE WERE UNDER PRESSURE FROM OUR PARENTS TO CIRCUMICSE HIM. WE DID RESEARCH AND DECIDED WE COULD NOT DO THIS TO OUR CHILD."
Woo-hoo!
And Sheila's books are always filled with lots of great illustrations and pictures. (Not of circ, but of all sorts of other things like a healthy placenta, newborn assessment, comfort measures during labor, labor positions, waterbirth, and more...)
I'm only halfway through it, but it's great. I encourage everybody to check it out.
Jen
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