Circ handout?

[busybusymomma]

I'm finishing up my binder and one subject that I want to briefly address is circumcision. I know it's a loaded subject but I just want to have a list of the 'pros and cons' so that clients can make an informed decision.

Most of the info I'm aware of is really biased one way or the other... anyone?

[LParks]

I think it's hard to get info on things that isn't biased. Especially with something like circ. I've decided to just make sure I represent both sides in the handouts I give. If you give them one handout from each "side" then they can make the choice.

[busybusymomma]

good point... thanks. I guess I will just have to dig through the info I find. It's not my favorite subject though since dh and I fought long and hard about it and still don't agree on it five years later.

[amymaew]

nocirc has a pamphlet about caring for your son's circumcised penis. Granted, it's not the best source for something pro circumcision , but if you don't find anything else

http://www.nocirc.org/publish/
It's Pamphlet #5 on that list

[ms_quoted]

While I agree that it is one of those hot topics, I do think it is a good idea to at least have some information in there on circumcision. At least where I live, there isn't a whole lot of info out there and when I was pregnant I didn't even really think about it. I just new my husband was and didn't really see it as something we had to make a decision about. Now, I really regret having my boys circ'd and if I have another won't be doing it. It wasn't until a woman in my AP put some information out there that I realized there is a real discussion that every expecting couple should have before making that decision.

[doula Michele]

I do not put anything about circ in mine. I may ask them about it, and if they are unsure one way or another, I will remind them that it is a medical procedure and to do some research and then make the decision that they feel is best for them.

[earthgirl]

I have a list of the sites on a resource page, and the simple facts:
% of population that is circumcised
APA does not recommend you do it, or not do it...personal decision
what occurs during circumcision
how to care for a circumcised penis
how to care for an intact penis
I never bring the topic up during prenatals, or at all, but I have the information there (binder), and it is only a couple of pages, for those wanting to make an informed decision. It is none of my business, but my last two clients did not circumcise their sons, and were very glad that I had that information, and they were encouraged to do their own research, because they never really thought about it before.

[busybusymomma]

Quote:

Originally Posted by earthgirl I have a list of the sites on a resource page, and the simple facts: % of population that is circumcised APA does not recommend you do it, or not do it...personal decision what occurs during circumcision how to care for a circumcised penis how to care for an intact penis I never bring the topic up during prenatals, or at all, but I have the information there (binder), and it is only a couple of pages, for those wanting to make an informed decision. It is none of my business, but my last two clients did not circumcise their sons, and were very glad that I had that information, and they were encouraged to do their own research, because they never really thought about it before.

That's what I'm aiming for... not to sway anyone's decision but to help them make an informed decision. I never questioned circ when we were pg with our first and I know a lot of people just think you should and don't realize it's not medically indicated.

[ms_quoted]

Quote:

Originally Posted by busybusymomma That's what I'm aiming for... not to sway anyone's decision but to help them make an informed decision. I never questioned circ when we were pg with our first and I know a lot of people just think you should and don't realize it's not medically indicated.

Just like doulaing in general, we're not here to push our agendas or goals on to our clients but to provide them with the resources and tools to make their own decisions. Circumcision is not something everyone really thinks about, the most info they get is usually a "how to care for your baby's circumcision" pamphlet but nothing that lets them now the statistics or that illustrates that circumcision is a choice.

[earthangel]

This is hard to figure out.

What confuses me about the AAP is that the AAP doesn't recommend circumcision routinely, but the AAP recommends 36 childhood immunizations routinely. There have been some circumcision studies that say maybe it protects people from contracting HIV, but some people considered the research flawed. Just as some studies show that vaccination prevents childhood illnesses, but some people consider that research flawed. As I read the news and the outbreaks in vaccinated populations, the data says that sometimes vaccinated people are attacked more aggressively than nonvaxed people. And sometimes the vaxed people rec'd multiple doses.

So, back to circumcision and the AAP recommendation, it seems a little bias to me, so it's hard to find an unbiased source whether it's from us or from experts (all the experts, not only the AAP.)

As of now, it's considered a cosmetic procedure by most people.

People tend to go with the organization that releases a statement that supports their view. What's a mom/doula to do?

[busybusymomma]

I know... I've touted the AAP and WHO guidelines re: breastfeeding but there's many issues about which I do not agree with them. It's kinda like this:

I ended up printing up "Deciding whether or not to circumsize your baby boy" off the askdrsears.com website. I don't agree with them on everything, but the article was short and concise without sounding judgmental or being "out there" like my dh thinks the anti-circ/pro-intact websites are. And maybe it will plant a seed for those who were going to circ just because they should you should.

[busybusymomma]

uh, that last sentence should have read "... just because they thought they should".