I have a 2 month old who was born at home, since I was not covered by insurance it took me 6 weeks postpartum to get him added on to my other children's policy, as I go to make his first doc appt and request a circ, they tell me he is too old to do it in the dr's office! I had no idea or I would have paid out of pocket immmediately after birth.
Have any of you had a circ performed on an older baby, my other two boys were w/i a week, and no problems, now I don't know what to expect. We can have it done, it just will be in the hospital w/ general anesthesia which totally frightens me!
Just looking for stories I guess, my heart is breaking that it will be so much worse because of his age.
Thanks for any info.

By Melanie on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 07:39 pm:

Have you considered not having it done? If you are set on doing it, I will certainly be quiet, but if you are open to the possibility I would strongly recommend considering not having it done at all.

By Kristie on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 08:13 pm:

I agree with Melanie. My 5 yr old isn't circumsized and we have never had problems. We wanted him to look like his daddy (who isn't) so it wouldn't confuse him. He was also born with kidney problems requiring surgery. We had the best pediatric urologist on the west sid of the Mississippi & he told us it isn't nessasary but youneed to make sure you pull the skin back and make sur all soap is washed away after a bath. You would do that any way. But it really is your decision, I just knew my baby would have to have surgery and I didn't want him to have to go through more than what was really nessesary.

By Bellajoe on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 08:38 pm:

I agree with Melanie and Kristie. My ds is not circumcised because his daddy isn't either. We have had no problems with it at all.

By Tink on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 08:57 pm:

My ds is circumsized and they did it at his 2 week check-up. He was almost too big then but he weighed over 11 lbs. If they hadn't been able to do it in the pediatrician's office I would have had it done in the hospital. Are you sure they will require general anesthesia? That would make me nervous but if he has no other health issues, I would go ahead with it. I decided to do this for 2 reasons: 1.His dad is circumsized and 2.I think it is safe to assume that most of the guys he sees in gym or what ever are going to have it done and will notice if his isn't.

By Truestori on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 09:40 pm:

It is a very personal decision.
I would atleast set up an appointment to speak with the hospital staff who would be performing the procedure and ask questions.

How does your husband feel about it?
I have talked to many men who are and aren't and neither one seems to have a problem with the way they are....

By Bobbie~moderatr on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 10:07 pm:

I agree, it is a personal choice. And I would set up a consult and talk to the Dr that would be doing it.

My DH and my DS have both had it done. I only know of two men in our family that haven't had it done and they both had health issues at birth. I really think that just like big ears, noses, needing glasses (all the things that make us different) they grow to accept the differences and it is not a huge issue in the long run. I think you should set up a consult and you should talk to your DH and see what his input is on it.

By Mommierenee on Saturday, July 17, 2004 - 09:29 am:

It is your choice whether you want to do it or not, but some people get circumsized later on in their childhood or even older in some instances. I'm sure it would be an outpatient procedure??
At 2 months, it's still early enough that he won't remember it later.
AND if your other 2 boys are circumsized, you probably want to have him also!

By Juli4 on Saturday, July 17, 2004 - 01:10 pm:

personally I would prefer general anesthia for comfort reasons. Can you imagine something like that being done to you without anything. Ouch. I have all girls, but if I have a boy I will not get him circumcised. There really is no reason for it. Also the foreskin has a lot of the nerve endings that feel good during sex. I think it is an outdated proceedure. The only thing is I work in the hospital and the older men who are not circumcised are so much harder to clean and are at more risk for uti and such, but during the younger years and on it isn't a problem. So just think he will be more comfortable. And will your insurance pay they are beginning to look at it as a cosmetic proceedure.

By Emily7 on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 12:37 am:

My son had his done in the hospital at around 6 weeks. All they did for him was put some numbing gel on his penis & then did the procedure about a 1/2 hour later. I was very stupid & insisted on being in the room. I would not recomend that, because they do cry a little. If you have any questions e-mail me.

By Kaye on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 09:38 am:

Emily I stayed in the room with my son too. I don't regret it, mine cried, but started crying from the moment they strapped him down, the procedure didn't affect his state.

By Mommierenee on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 11:39 am:

LOL!
My son was my first child & I cried when they took his blood, when they circumsized him, when they put a tube in his nose, when he cried, etc...
I was really paranoid & it hasn't gotten much better since then!

By Emily7 on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 12:33 pm:

Kaye I was in a bad state as it was. Joseph had spent so much time in the NICU & by then it had started to wear on me. That maybe the reason it bothered me being in the room. You are right though, he did cry the second they strapped him down. He was also easily consoled after I was able to hold him.

By Kym on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 03:55 pm:

Thanks for the info ladies, to answer a few questions:
Yes I'd like to have it done, for a few reasons
1. Dh and both other sons are done
2. I have known 3 boys personally that had to be done between the ages of 8-12 for infection reasons, that to me personally is a high percentage since I dont' know that many that are not circ'd.
I know it's cosmetic ( and no my insurance won't pay for this reason) but it is just the way it's been for our family.
I will definately not be in the room.
Yes, I was told general anesthesia, which is my second largest fear, I had all me children naturally because of my fear of putting anything like that in my body, and would not "choose" to do it to my children, if it was emergent that would be a different story of course. But for something that is cosmetic I would opt not to do it, but if I can have it done w/ a local, I've read about a lidacane ring they give than an injection of local, which I'm hoping will be the way to go.
Emily, how long did the procedure take? Was it quick like for newborns? I definately will not be in the room but waiting w/ open arms and exposed breast right outside the door!

By Tink on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 05:36 pm:

Kym, I realize that my son was a bit younger but it was with the lidocaine ring and a local and it was very fast. 30 minutes maybe. I could hear him crying in the other room and that was hard but I think it was from being strapped down.
P.S. The "exposed breast" is a good idea. My ds calmed right down when he got ahold of that.

By Momaroze on Sunday, July 18, 2004 - 11:31 pm:

My ds had his done when he was 3yrs old, in the hospital. Although I was nervous and of course concerned, I have to say everything worked out well including the recovery time. I personally have not heard of any horror stories. Best wishes.

By Emily7 on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 12:32 am:

Depending on the procedure it took around 20 minutes after they numbed it. My OB actually did the procedure.

By John on Monday, July 19, 2004 - 11:14 am:

I am but I chose not to have my son done for myriad health and human rights issues which I won't discuss here because I don't want to start a debate.

This is a multi-page article from Parentsplace that discusses some of the history, facts and myths of circumcision in a balanced way(and is rather fascinating reading):

http://www.parentsplace.com/babies/newborn/articles/0,,244585_439981-1,00.html

By Coopaveryben on Friday, July 23, 2004 - 07:56 am:

Kym if this is something you feel strongly about I believe you could work with the insurance company. I used to work employee's through a lot of insurance problems like this. If you contact them and ask them what to do, explain about what happened to your other sons and ask if you could get a doctor's note explaining it was medical. This will give you a good start.

By Amecmom on Friday, July 23, 2004 - 09:22 am:

My insurance paid for it when my son was born. Is there a difference when you have it done? It's still the same procedure.
Ame

By Kym on Friday, July 23, 2004 - 07:20 pm:

Good News! We found a pediatric urologist that can do babies up to 13 pounds in his office w/ just local anesthesia, plus he deemed it medically neccessary because of a "tight" tip (at this point we can't pull the foreskin back which I realize is very common in this age) but it works for a medical reason, rather than cosmetic so my insurance will pay for it! So we go back Tuesday for the procedure. Lesson learned if you want the circ done, do it right away, it's terrible thinking about it this long!
I'll do a follow up on Wednesday.
Thanks all of you for offering support

By Bobbie~moderatr on Saturday, July 24, 2004 - 01:56 am:

Kym, that is great news. I am sure it will all work out just fine. And this is a good example for the "now you know" file.

By Emily7 on Saturday, July 24, 2004 - 09:58 am:

I am glad it is all going to turn out for the best.