Circumcisions-Question

SmilingBluEyes · Dec 6, 2005

I see this thread sinking fast in the Gen Nursing Forum, so I moved here, in hopes more will see it who can reply.

daisybaby, LPN · Dec 6, 2005

I don't have any info on docs refusing to circ male babies, but our new lactation consultant feels that circing breast babies within the first two weeks disrupts breastfeeding too much. However, the docs who deliver here wil not do a circ in the office, so if mom and dad want it done, it gets done in hospital.

fergus51 · Dec 6, 2005

I only know one doc who won't circ, but she just gets one of her group's obs to do them. I have noticed more of the newer docs give out newer information than the old docs (the old docs give out a lot of outdated info). I knew several in Canada who didn't do it, but again, they would refer their patients to another doc if the patient wanted it. None of these docs would ever make a big deal about it with the parents.

Bipley · Dec 9, 2005

I don't have any info on docs refusing to circ male babies, but our new lactation consultant feels that circing breast babies within the first two weeks disrupts breastfeeding too much. However, the docs who deliver here wil not do a circ in the office, so if mom and dad want it done, it gets done in hospital.

I found my thread! ;o)))) (Thanks to staff for moving it!)

Question... how does circing breast babies disrupt breastfeeding? This is something I have never heard of before.

Bipley · Dec 9, 2005

I only know one doc who won't circ, but she just gets one of her group's obs to do them. I have noticed more of the newer docs give out newer information than the old docs (the old docs give out a lot of outdated info). I knew several in Canada who didn't do it, but again, they would refer their patients to another doc if the patient wanted it. None of these docs would ever make a big deal about it with the parents.

Can you give me specifics on the new info being given out today? Specifically, what kinds of info are docs giving out that are outdated?

I've watched one circ and assisted in one right after school. Never had a desire to see that again so my personal knowledge is limited in that area.

Bipley · Dec 9, 2005

Ohhhh, one other question.

Does anyone see any trends in parents regarding whether or not they have the procedure done? IOW, are there as many parents wanting circumcisions as ... say, 30 years ago?

Thanks!

TweetiePieRN · Dec 9, 2005

Ohhhh, one other question.
Does anyone see any trends in parents regarding whether or not they have the procedure done? IOW, are there as many parents wanting circumcisions as ... say, 30 years ago?
Thanks!

I don't work OB, but I was one of 10 nurses on my unit to have a baby this year (Apologies to the staffing dept!!:rotfl: ). 9 of those were male babies and 8 out of the 9 were circumcised. The one baby that was not circumcised...both of his parents are from Canada where circs are less common. The rest of us are born and raised in California and Nevada, if this means anything to your research. (in terms of geography playing a part)

Graciegirlienurse · Dec 9, 2005

I work at a large teaching hospital in oregon and our pediatricians do not do circ's. they ob docs do it because the peds docs wont. the circumcision rate at our facility is about 50%. We hand out a standard info sheet stating that it is not medically necessary, not recomended by the aap, but sometimes chosen because of personal or religious reasons. There are also several nurses who refuse to assist with circumcisions for ethical reasons. actually since starting at this hospital in july i have only had one baby with a circ, it looked terrible.

West_Coast_Ken, BSN, RN · Dec 9, 2005

hi bipley,

i'll know more after next semester when we will be doing our peds/ob rotations, but my personal experience is that my 24, 17, and 11 year old sons are not circumcised.

seemed a pointless, painful, totally unnecessarily (medically) procedure rooted in ancient traditions so we told the docs no dice and leave our son's memberes alone thank you very much. the staff was a bit surprised with our 24 year old (that was in 1981) but the other two sons didn't seem to raise an eyebrow.

best of luck in your research and let us know what you learn. i think it would be interesting to know what the trends are...

regards,

ken

fergus51 · Dec 9, 2005

Can you give me specifics on the new info being given out today? Specifically, what kinds of info are docs giving out that are outdated?
I've watched one circ and assisted in one right after school. Never had a desire to see that again so my personal knowledge is limited in that area.

Newer docs are no longer telling their patients that circs will prevent cervical cancer in men's sexual partners or stressing that penile cancer risk is decreased since the research that found those benefits was terribly flawed. They are also no longer teaching parents that it's necessary for hygeine or that they need to retract the foreskin to wash their boys. This is all outdated info I've heard some docs give parents. I believe the American Academy of Pediatricians (or whatever it's called) is no longer recommending routine circs because there is no real health benefit, and I know Canada's doesn't anymore and hasn't for years.

I live in Southern California and find a majority of white boys are done before they go home (maybe 60-70%), but I've yet to see a Hispanic baby circed. I would think that would make circed babies in the minority overall at my hospital.

mitchsmom · Dec 9, 2005

Circumcision statistics:

http://www.cirp.org/library/statistics/

Circ & bf:

http://www.cirp.org/library/birth/#n11

They list references for all of their information.

Here's another page on circ & bf... I haven't read it but it does appear to list it's references as well:

http://www.circumstitions.com/Nursing.html

Hope that helps!