The circumcision procedure is one of the most prominent practices that we carry out after a child is born. By letting us know that you are interested in having your child circumcised, we can then set him apart for circumcision surgery. While some parents may think that the operation is all that is required, this could not be further from the truth. For a baby boy’s circumcision to truly be successful, it will require work from us, as your physician, and you as a parent.
What is Baby Circumcision?
Baby circumcision is one of the most popular procedures that we carry out. Generally, it involves the removal of the foreskin, which is the hood that covers the penis. We usually advise that your child has their circumcision procedure two or three days after they have been delivered and before they leave the hospital. However, if your child has been born prematurely or has a problem with their penis, then we suggest that you wait a little bit longer before they undergo circumcision surgery.
What Happens During Circumcision Surgery?
During a baby boy’s circumcision, your child will usually be awake, so this will mean that we will have to hold them still by wrapping a soft fabric band around the legs and sometimes around the arms. As the procedure can be painful to children, we will also apply an anesthetic to the base of your child’s penis to ease any discomfort.
Baby circumcision is often carried out by using clamp rings that are attached to your child’s penis. Once we are confident that the ring has been attached, we will then cut off any excess foreskin. Usually, no device remains on the penis after the procedure, but rarely, some methods use a ring that falls off in a few days, so do not worry about this.
Depending on the type of ring that we have used, we may apply an ointment such as petroleum jelly and wrap the penis in gauze as part of your child’s circumcision care. This is to stop the wound from sticking to his diaper.
The circumcision procedure does not last a long time and your baby should be back in your arms within ten minutes, but before you leave the hospital with your child, you should make sure that you speak to us about post circumcision care.
What Happens After a Baby Boys Circumcision?
The period after a baby boy’s circumcision is crucial, and you should ensure that you are taking good care of your baby. The surgery can cause your child to feel sore, making them fussy or annoyed, so you should be prepared for this. There is usually not much bleeding after the procedure, but after taking off the dressing, you may notice a spot of blood on their diaper or the edge of the incision. This is perfectly normal, and the bleeding should stop on its own.
Cleaning is an essential part of post circumcision care, but many parents often get this wrong. You should remember that the penis will still be sore so you must be gentle when bathing them. We also recommend that you stay away from special bath products and use clean and warm water instead.
As we may leave a gauze around the incision, you will have to apply a new dressing for the first two or three days after your child has left the hospital, after which you should no longer need the dressing. However, you should continue to add a touch of petroleum jelly either to the penis or on the diaper for at least three days as part of your child’s post circumcision care, this should help your child feel less sore as it reduces any pain that may come from rubbing.
Does Circumcision Have Any Benefits?
Although circumcision is not medically required, there are many reasons why you may choose to have your child circumcised. While some parents choose circumcision because of cultural, religious, or personal beliefs, there are also several health benefits associated with circumcision:
- Reduced Chance of Urinary Tract Infection (UTI):
Your child is less likely to get a urinary tract infection if they have been circumcised. There are many reasons why this may be the case, but generally, a circumcised penis is easier to keep clean and uninfected.
- Lower Risk of Sexually Transmitted Diseases (STDs) From a Female Partner:
There has been recent research conducted that has shown that there is a negative correlation between circumcision and the transmission of sexually transmitted diseases such as HIV. This means that later in your child’s life, they may have a reduced risk of contracting an STD from a female partner if they are circumcised.
Risks and Complications from Baby Boys Circumcision
As the circumcision procedure has been practiced for thousands of years, it has become one of the safest surgeries that are carried out. This means that there should be little or no risk when having your child circumcised. The healing process can take anywhere from seven to ten days. During this period, you may notice that your child’s penis looks raw or yellowish, but this is perfectly normal. However, there are still rare cases where there may be complications, if you do notice any of the following problems, then make sure that you contact us immediately:
- Infection:
Infection after a circumcision can be extremely rare as we use sterile tools and techniques to perform the procedure. Yet, if you notice any extreme redness, pus, or swelling around the incision, then it may be a case of infection. Although most infection cases related to circumcision are normally minor, you should still ensure that you contact us immediately.
- Bleeding:
Some children have bleeding disorders, and this could lead to bleeding at the site of the incision. If your family has a history of bleeding or blood clotting problems, then you should make sure that you speak to us before we perform the procedure. Bleeding may also occur if a tiny blood vessel has been accidentally opened during the surgery. While the bleeding normally stops on its own, it may still require stitches.
- Not Urinating 12 Hours after the Procedure:
Some children may not urinate for a few hours after the procedure. However, it may be the case that your child has not urinated for up to 12 hours after the procedure. If you observe this, then ensure that you speak to us immediately.
You may also notice some other issues after the procedure that you may want to speak to us about:
- A foul smell emanating from the tip of the penis.
- The plastic ring attached to the penis has not fallen off after two weeks.
If you are still unsure about the procedure or if you are about to have a baby boy and would like to know more about circumcision, we have years of experience performing this operation. Please drop us an email or call us on any of our telephone lines, and we will be happy to answer any of your questions. Feel free to also share any extra thoughts that you may have about the procedure in the comment section.
