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Multicultural families

Here's where to share your experience of raising a child or growing up in a multicultural family.

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Original poster

circumcision advice

23 replies

JonahB · 27/07/2005 08:32

I'm having my 6 week son circumcised tomorrow am and i'm very nervous (he was jaundiced, so i haven't been able to do it earlier). Can any of you pass on any tips or advice that would help either him or me (other than a very large brandy for me)

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

saadia · 27/07/2005 09:23

Make sure you have some Calpol at home. The doctor who did our dss' said you can give him half a spoon. We were also told to bathe him twice a day in salt water. I think it's helping a lot that you're having it done early so that he can't move his legs around too much.

Other than that the thing that got me through was prayer. Good Luck, I hope it all goes OK.

Twiglett · 27/07/2005 09:27

emla cream (local topical anaesthetic) before the circumcision .. can get on private prescription .. you apply to penis and wrap in cling film about an hour beforehand

its not as bad as you envisage

Twiglett · 27/07/2005 09:28

beware this thread will most probably kick off (its that kind of topic)

flamesparrow · 27/07/2005 09:33

I have no advice, just wanted to give you hugs before it all kicks off....

Remember... it is YOUR choice, YOUR child, and ignore anyone who is mean to you.

xxxx

stitch · 27/07/2005 12:30

i had my boys done at 15 monthsish. ds1 had an epidural for the pain afterwards! but despite the docotrs opinions that they would be in pain and lieing aroundfor a few days, both were running around like their usual mad selves about 6 0r 7 hours later. the sedatives/painkillers were for me
just keep the nappy loose, clean up poo and wee immediately. should be fine.
good luck

Original poster

JonahB · 27/07/2005 16:03

Thanks for all your advice. I was a bit scared about posting for advice as it is such a contentious issue, but I thought that there may be some people who had it done and I could learn from them. I?ll go and get some Calpol today. I?ve left it a bit late for the Elma cream.

Thanks again?.

OP posts:

oatcake · 27/07/2005 16:25

because you need so much salt for the bath to be beneficial, as a student midwife, we don't advise that for new mums, so find out exactly how much salt you'd need to be beneficial cos it'll only be for a baby bath eh?

otherwise, a drop of lavender or tea tree oil in the baby bath if efficient.

go for the large brandy route anyway!

Mytwopenceworth · 27/07/2005 16:33

agree calpol, salt baths and lots of cuddles! - at his age it should heal very quickly anyway, i'm told. be grateful it is being done as a baby. my dh was done at 14 (no anasthetic!) as in his culture it symbolises transition into manhood (14?!! but never mind!) he said that our boys will not be accepted if they dont go thru this ritual and was going to take them over there to have it done in the village!!! after much arguing, we compromised and agreed that it will be their choice.

Original poster

JonahB · 29/07/2005 11:34

Just as a little update, the circumcision went fine (or as fine as they can go). DS was a little grouchy afterwards, but nothing major. All the advice worked - calpol, 2 daily baths, plenty of cuddles and the dr did use Elma cream. Bless him, being awake for most of yesterday meant that he let me sleep from the 9:30pm feed right until 5:30am!

thanks again....

OP posts:

pinkmagic1 · 12/08/2005 10:54

sorry for my belated reply but have just got back from Egypt and while visiting family decided to get our 14 month old curcumcised so can fully understand your anxiety.
It was done just over a week ago and he is healing really well. He was put to sleep for the procedure and the doctor told me I probably wouldn't get much sleep that night but despite being upset for a couple of hours after he came round he was fine.
I felt extremely guilty putting him through something that wasn't medically necessary and sat crying in the waiting room telling my husband I wish we had had a girl! but I spoke to a friend afterwards who knows a doctor who has had his boys curcimcised, not for religious reasons but because he strongly believes it is much more hygenic.
I have been bathing him twice a day in an iodine solution and leaving him without a nappy for as long as possible.

ChaCha · 12/08/2005 13:34

Pinkmagic - how old was your DS when he had the circumcision? I am PG with our first child and am expecting a boy who will be circumcised at some point. Was it done in Egypt?

ChaCha · 12/08/2005 13:35

Sorry - 14 month old. I should have put my glasses on

vikinggirl · 04/03/2007 20:52

Flamesparrow says: "Remember... it is YOUR choice, YOUR child, and ignore anyone who is mean to you."

Absolute nonsense ...if a child's genitals belong to its parent and it's their CHOICE to hurt them then all those daddies in jail for playing with their little ones' private parts shouldn't be there.

hoohoo · 04/03/2007 20:55

vikinggirl · 04/03/2007 20:59

Hoo hoo sometimes you have to call a spade a spade...it is abhorrent that parents think they own their childs' body in this day and age. Bodily integrity and choice of religion are fundamental human rights

And the religious justification is disputed - as i've just said elsewhere - the Quran doesn't mention male or female circumcision and the original version of the Torah didn't either. It's a practice that was originally to do with living in a harsh desert environment and protecting sensitive bits from sand

lulumama · 04/03/2007 21:02

vikinggirl..you resurrected a two year old thread for a reason? or just to start an argument

comparing families who circumcise for religious beliefs to sexual abusers

lulumama · 04/03/2007 21:03

and you have only posted on cirumcision threads....

vikinggirl · 04/03/2007 21:11

You're right I have only posted on circumcision threads - i logged on here originally to make a point about G Ford and Miriam Stoppard - the latter being a neonatal circumcision advocate and therefore being a bit hypocritical to say GF was damaging babies. I was appalled to find so many mothers talking about mutilating their sons' genitals and also by the ignorance about the fact that a foreskin is designed not to retract until it's ready to. Men's health rights are just as important as womens' but even the basic information parents of sons need isn't being communicated.

vikinggirl · 04/03/2007 21:18

the other thing that has got me worked up enough to revive old threads is that a baby has just died in North London and it looks as if the circumcision - either the shock or the bleeding or both - killed him.
Initial reports indicated that it was being investigated by a child abuse unit, we may have to wait a while to hear the results but if it is shown conclusively that the baby died from circumcision you may find your rights to do this are restricted as they are in Sweden.

lulumama · 04/03/2007 21:21

you are entitled to your POV of course, but comparing religious circumcision to fathers sexually abusing children is abhorrent and uncalled for and unlikely to change anyone;s mind about circumcising for religious reasons.

i don;t want to get into an argument on this, you are entitled to your POV but might want to rethink your analogy as it is crude and offensive IMO.

vikinggirl · 04/03/2007 21:34

Lulumama I have no idea what an IMO is but i refer you again to the parent who said to another parent "it is YOUR choice, YOUR child" It simply is not the case that we own our children and can do what we like to them.
Would be interested to hear your pov on female circumcision - child abuse or not?

brandy7 · 04/03/2007 21:35

IMO means in my opinion

vikinggirl · 04/03/2007 21:38

thanks Brandy! as i said i am new to this site so learning the lingo.

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