I am not sure how to approach how I inform people when it comes to the decision to circumcise or not. There are the clients that know they don't want to do it right off the bat. Then there are some that do change their minds after some information. Do you put info in a binder about it? Just bring it up?
I find that the people who say "It's a boy, we want to circumcise" have really not thought it through, and have not done the research and are going for it because dad is circumcised.
My last client was exposed to a lot of information about natural birth in the few weeks we had together, and this was with her bringing up what she wanted to know. I did not give her info on circ, because she did not ask, and I did not want to overwhelm her also. A few weeks after the birth she wishes she didn't circ. And she asked me why I didn't say anything about the subject.
How do I give info without seeming "pushy" or biased? My hope is that parents would research EVERYTHING, but they just don't.
I had a client ask me about it with the last birth I did so I found some information for them and put it in the binder I gave them. I have it on hand, but I don't put it in all of my binders.
On my business site, I put my resource binder up as something I have available to all of my Mamas and I offer to customize it for them according to their preferences if they are interested in something I don't already cover. I list male circ and family centered C-sections as examples of "special requests".
During my prenatal that covers birth preferences, it is one of the questions that I ask mom's regarding newborn procedures. I ask if they are going to circumcise. If they have a definite answer without any hesitation, I make a note and move on. If they look at me like they never thought about it one way or another, then I briefly discuss where they can find some information and refer them to my binder, which has a section on circumcision.
I am not pushy on the subject. I make sure to state that I am not advocating for one way or another, just asking for their preference and referring them to some additional resources as necessary. I also let them know that circumcision does not have to be done in the hospital, it can be done with the pediatrician in the office, if they want to wait a week and see how they feel about it at that point.
I know personally, when I went to the pediatrician 4 days pp, mine asked me if I was planning to circumcise or not. I was not, and he proceeded to give me some advice on this and that, basically leave it alone information... and then told my husband, who was on the fence on this matter, that it can be done later too, if we decided on it.
I always tell clients that if they are unsure, wait and see how they feel in a week or 2 weeks even.
I don't think that this crosses the line or represents one side more than the other, and I think that it IS within our professional responsibility to address the matter. NOT to take sides, but to provide information and lead them to resources to allow them to make an educated decision. I don't see this matter as any different then asking them if they are opting for or against the Vitamin K shot, antibiotics in the eyes or the hep B vaccine.
Isn't that what we do as doulas... educate, inform and allow them to make their own decisions without judgment?
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Ashley Motzenbecker, CD (CBI), RP, PED
Certified Labor Doula, Certified Perinatal Educator, Level II Reiki Certified
Regional Coordinator and Volunteer Doula for Operation Special Delivery www.wiregrassdoulaservices.com
As a very strong advocate for informed choice,I ask parents this when they know they are having a boy.If they say they elect to give the baby surgery(that's what it is!) then I ask them why? If they say things like..because it's suppose to be easier to clean and prevent infections,its cleaner,or because his dad is I give them information found on NOCIRC.ORG. This site also offers a free circ video for childbirth educators and doulas. I've found 95 percent of my clients change their mind after they find out there is no pro's of the surgery and alot of boys end up with problems because of the elective surgery.Im in florida and medicaid has quit covering CIRC,so if people want it that have medicaid it comes out of their pocket..which I think is an excellent idea! So far I havent had any clients angry at me for bringing it up,or giving them informed consent and refusal. I believe dr's are just scalpel happy! Having just had a newborn 3 months ago,when I took my son for his required 24 hour visit with the pediatrician he actually pulled out a scalpel and asked if I was going to circumsize. I told him in a very firm tone no,unless of course he could tell me what benefits that this surgery could do for my son,and why in the world a baby is born with something hes not suppose to have...
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As a very strong advocate for informed choice,I ask parents this when they know they are having a boy.If they say they elect to give the baby surgery(that's what it is!) then I ask them why? If they say things like..because it's suppose to be easier to clean and prevent infections,its cleaner,or because his dad is I give them information found on NOCIRC.ORG. This site also offers a free circ video for childbirth educators and doulas. I've found 95 percent of my clients change their mind after they find out there is no pro's of the surgery and alot of boys end up with problems because of the elective surgery.Im in florida and medicaid has quit covering CIRC,so if people want it that have medicaid it comes out of their pocket..which I think is an excellent idea! So far I havent had any clients angry at me for bringing it up,or giving them informed consent and refusal. I believe dr's are just scalpel happy! Having just had a newborn 3 months ago,when I took my son for his required 24 hour visit with the pediatrician he actually pulled out a scalpel and asked if I was going to circumsize. I told him in a very firm tone no,unless of course he could tell me what benefits that this surgery could do for my son,and why in the world a baby is born with something hes not suppose to have...
I love NOCIRC.
I have the same pamphlet in my binder as well as information on taking care of an intact penis if they do decide against circumcision.
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Juno: Can't we just like kick this old school. You know, like I stick the baby in a basket, send it your way, like Moses and the reeds?
Mark: Technically that'd be kickin' it Old Testiment.
i ask if they would like to talk about it. usually they say "sure". i ask if they have already decided? then take it from there.
i do give a handout in my birth class binder, and there is a diagram from mothering mag that shows it.
i tell them right up front that many people have strong feelings about circ, but that i will not judge them and i will give honest answers. many, many clients have chosen not to circ based on what they have learned.
As part of my intake interview I ask gender and if they're circing. I ask because many are unaware that most of the OBs in this town will NOT circumcise. So they need to make plans for it if they plan to do it. They also need to research if their insurance company will pay for it, since most consider it a cosmetic procedure and more and more are refusing to pay for it.
If they're undecided I toss out that the stats are 50/50 and that it's considered a cosmetic procedure and there's no solid evidence for doing it for health reasons, especially in the USA.
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it's funny because I was one that said that I would circumcize Noah but when it came down to it, I just didn't follow through with it. I'm so glad that we ended up making the right choice for us. I was just having a discusion about this last night.
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who was born on 7/3/09.
