When to call your Doctor

<>

That may be true in some areas, but I know at least in the NYC metro area, that medical schools (for instance NYU's) aren't pro-circ at all. They're more of a "it's not needed, but parents request it, but you can tell them it's not needed so they know". Younger doctors coming up aren't as pro-circ (fortunately) as they were 20 years ago. This fact is known to the AAP/CDC which is why 1) the doctors at the AAP conference were against circ even when the board presented their pro-circ case, and 2) the steering committee at the AAP task force is trying to hard to find any kind of evidence for circ. Fortunately, most doctors, and actually a good amount of people on the street, aren't falling for it. In fact, they feel that their intelligence is being insulted with the kind of garbage being propagated. Everyone, from doctor down to the open-minded man-on-the-street says "well if you still need to use a condom, what good is it?".

"Perhaps the issue of secular infant circumcision in the US has no more or less impact than the issue of bottle or breastfeeding - or the many other matters of child care which we all share. If that's true, I despair."

In my personal experience, bottle or breastfeeding is a much larger consideration for most new parents. Other things, like scheduling or feeding on demand are also considered more important. I'm from the midwest, which has a very high circ rate. It is simply what is done, with little or no thought into the matter. It is common thought (even so far as to come from my obstetrician) that only certain racial minorities leave their sons intact (and, I think, there is a certain racism in this thought--that they don't know better or are taking their strange practices with them). In fact, my ob was second generation Korean, and talked about how many problems other Koreans have when they choose to keep their sons intact and then needed to get circumcisions in adulthood. She told me I would be the only Caucasian family in the practice that year that kept their son intact. Ugh.

Anyway, my social circle is in general very liberal, and very educated, of people in the mental health or medical field with doctorates or master's for the most part. They are the type of people who like to be well informed on every major decision and are in general open to debate it with others. However, circumcision was considered such a non-issue that people really didn't look into it, and there was nothing to debate. Leaving your son intact was not considered a bad thing per se, just a bit odd, and may be a problem somewhere down the line. There wasn't considered to be many pros or cons on whatever is decided. When I have tried to open the debate to some people online it is kid of a joke...there is nothing else to debate so now we are bringing up such a non-issue as circumcision?

Cait or Caitlyn works :-)

Yes, I think most people in this culture will read that without much concern. It is all potential problems, and everything has a risk. A little discomfort and risk now for a lifetime of lower risk. I think it is viewed a necessary by many parents...not something they want to go through, but for the best. Just one of the downsides of having a male baby.

A small memory...I was so afraid of my son being circumcised against my will in the hospital. I had heard horror stories of this. I made sure that my obstetrician knew my wishes (although she strongly disagreed and we had debated twice on the subject) and also let my nurses know it. I remember at shift change a nurse checking in asked if he had been circumcised yet. Not if it was even going to happen, just if it had already happened or was on the itinerary for the day. Just shows how unusual it was in the area to not have the surgery performed.

I haven't had any problems with pediatricians or family doctors, luckily. Although I've stayed alert about doctors that may try to retract or advise us to do it, any doctor I've had contact with knew the correct care. I have some concern for my son starting day care for the first time this fall since he isn't potty trained yet, and I don't think he'll be ready any time soon. I hate to make a bad first impression by going in there in education mode for something that should be common knowledge, but I guess I have to, to be safe.

I didn't know that about Koreans and circumcision at the time...although part of her message was that circumcision was necessary as adults in her family. She told me that the adult males had so many problems they had to be circumcised, and as a precautionary measure circumcised their children (not infants). Given her family history, she advises all of her patients to get it done now to avoid problems later that would necessitate circumcision. She was also adamant that her babies she circumcises don't feel pain due to the anesthetic, something that I had believed at the time but after doing more reading on the anesthesia used for infants, I have my doubts.