does anyone know anything about waiting to have a baby circumcised until after your breast milk comes in (because of the natural "painkillers" breast milk is supposed to have)?
(Beta-endorphins are the body's own natural painkillers. The levels increase during pregnancy, and further increase during the first and second stages of labour. Suckling also causes release of beta-endorphins. Their levels are twice as high in the new mother's milk - colostrum - as in later milk. They are absorbed by the baby and reach the central nervous system.)
There are no painkillers in breast milk unless you are taking painkillers.
I would recommend waiting until he is old enough to decide for himself if he wants it done.
I agree with everything T.G. said. Circumcision is no longer recommended by any health organization, can harm your child, and is the equivalent of removing a female clitoris.
My boys are now 25 and 28. Their dad is circumcised; they are not. I am glad we made the choice for them that we did. It has never been a problem and I feel strongly that it was the correct choice. Back then it was just assumed that little white baby boys would be circumcised. I got billed for a circumcision that never happened with the first. With my second boy a nurse came in to pick up the baby. As she was leaving I asked why he had to go and she smiled and said it's time for him to be circumcised! I nearly freaked out and demanded she bring him back to me right away. I had never signed the release for it, they just assumed. Do your own research and think seriously about it.
I've never heard of that one before, so I don't know if it would work. You can request that they use a topical anesthetic on your son. My son't had to be recut after it healed funny, and his pediatrician did it. He put the ointment on, waited five minutes, and when he cut with the scalpel my baby didn't even notice.
I don't know about that - I can tell you that my little one was circumsized on day 2 and he slept through it. Hospitals will also give baby a pacifier dipped in sugar-water to promote sucking - the suckling action is also distracting for newborns.
I've watched many circumcisions, as a RN, and the babies do sleep. If you want it done for your son, do it. I'd not wait. Have it done before going home from the hospital, then if BM helps with pain, you'll still have that benefit. I've never heard of that either though, unless you're taking narcotics.
Never heard of it... I asked my husband (he is a medical doctor) and he just looked at me like I am crazy. I have heard of waiting until the 7th day because that is when the Bible/Torah says to do it, but it has nothing to do with breast milk.
At the birth center I delivered at the midwife would like you to wait 10 days so that the baby is breast feeding well. She did not mention any pain relief but the baby can have some discomfort after the numbing meds wear off and she does not want that to interfere with your nursing. I do know that as an emergency RN I will have infants breast feed while I am starting an IV on them because it does decrease their pain. At least that is what I learned in school. It works very well however the baby has to be on the breast. I have noticed a significant difference in nursing versus not nursing infants during IV starts. Sugar water also works since he cant be nursing while he is having the circ done.
Oh, and if you do some research they now say that circumcision is almost as good as a vaccine against HIV/AIDS. It decreases the chance of contracting the disease if exposed by 80%. I hope my child will be a virign until he is married but I believe in being realistic. That includes educating them thoroughly on sex and STD's. It also means doing everything I can to protect them. Dont let the opposition sway what you feel is best for your family.
Good luck!
Never heard of that.
My son had his done within 24 hours of his birth 18.5 years ago and he is just fine.
LBC
I have never heard that. It is Jewish tradition to weight 8 days for the circumcision. The reason for this is because then the body begins to naturally produce a clotting agent for bleeding.
We did not wait on one, and waited on two others. I could not tell a difference, really, and I was present for all 3 procedures.
VickiS
I've never heard that. As far as I know, no doctor would do this procedure without a local anesthetic anyway, so I would just get it done ASAP in the hospital.
We did not circumcise our son. It sounds like you are doing a lot of research on the issue, which is great. Keep researching. As you learn more about it, you may start to wonder why circumcise at all? It is a painful, permanent surgical procedure that is altering their body without their consent or permission. Dr. Sears considers routine infant circumcision cosmetic surgery. Check out www.mothering.com and www.askdrsears.com for some interesting information rethinking the assumption that circumcision is normal and natural procedure to perform on an infant.
