Circumcision and Pain?

klone, MSN, RN · Dec 26, 2012

Do you not have pediatricians that do the circs? All I can imagine is that since it's an OB doing it, s/he is simply woefully out of date on current recommendations.

Twinmom06, ASN, APN · Dec 26, 2012

I worked in OB this summer and all the babies got the lidocaine block, PO Sweet-Eaze, and Tylenol...sometimes they scream because the betadine they are swabbed with is cold but once the lidocaine kicks in there was very little screaming (and a few thanked the doctor by peeing on him afterward LOL)...

that is horrible...

CrunchyMama, ASN, RN · Dec 26, 2012

I don't work in OB but have done plenty of research on circumcision and unfortunately it's fairly common for a doctor to not use any pain med or not use enough or not wait the correct time for the numbing med to take effect. It makes me cringe when a mom says "oh he was only gone for 10 minutes and came back sleeping"....poor baby felt everything then, before going into shock. Some people (doctors included) think that a baby's nervous system isn't mature as a newborn, so he can't feel his genitals being ripped into, makes no sense at all. I'm extremely against circumcision, obviously. It's appauling that doctors are only seeing money signs when they look at a newborn baby boy instead of not giving out correct up to date information regarding this topic. New parents should be required to watch a video beforehand on how it's done because many have no clue what they're signing him up for. My first son was circ'ed because I knew nothing about the topic, like many I thought it needed to be done. I regret it everyday and he's almost 9 years old. My 14 month old is intact. The circumcision rates are decreasing, but not fast enough. I would definitely talk to this doctor or if you don't feel comfortable doing so, talk with the charge nurse and/or supervisor. Someone needs to stand up for these babies. :/

amygarside · Dec 26, 2012

Oh no, I do not think this is a usual practice nowadays.

monkeybug · Dec 26, 2012

Do you not have pediatricians that do the circs? All I can imagine is that since it's an OB doing it, s/he is simply woefully out of date on current recommendations.

All of our circs are done by the OBs, not the Peds.

jodyangel, RN · Dec 26, 2012

All circs are done by the OB. Yes they do give them a pack with the sugar water on it...and Tylenol afterwards....but how did that help when the scalpel was cutting them...or the clamp of the hemostats. Nada. This doc was not fast.

Kidrn911 · Dec 26, 2012

After witnessing my first circ and seeing the very little pain med given, I would love to do it to a grown male doctor and see if Tylenol will work for his, it is cruel

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Dec 27, 2012

When I was in nursing school (WAYYYYY back in 2010) the circ I witnessed was also done without any anesthetic. Barbaric and out of date...but I think it's still pretty common. This was a high tech, cutting edge teaching hospital and one of the major L&D sites in the area.

BostonTerrierLover, BSN, RN · Dec 27, 2012

What in the world was the reasoning behind the sugar water or sucrose? (Giving it to the infants orally during Circumcision?)

hiddencatRN, BSN, RN · Dec 27, 2012

What in the world was the reasoning behind the sugar water or sucrose? (Giving it to the infants orally during Circumcision?)

Sucrose does have pain relief benefits in infants. The sucking action and the sugar are soothing and help with pain. They use that method a lot in the NICU.

melmarie23, MSN, RN · Dec 27, 2012

All of our circs are done by the OBs, not the Peds.

Circa are done by our OBs too

klone, MSN, RN · Dec 28, 2012

What in the world was the reasoning behind the sugar water or sucrose? (Giving it to the infants orally during Circumcision?)

It's evidence based practice - oral sucrose releases endorphins that helps with pain management. In many NICUs, sucrose on pacifiers is given during any stressful or painful procedure.