Pregnancy A to Z - Circumcision

If your baby is a boy, you may want to have him circumcised shortly after he's born. On the other hand, some families choose not to have this done. The reasons for circumcision are usually cultural or religious. It is, however, important to note that circumcision is a very safe procedure.

Circumcision is the name for the surgical removal of the foreskin on a penis. A circumcision of a newborn boy is usually done before he leaves the hospital. There are two commonly used methods.

With the first, a metal ring-type clamp is placed around the foreskin, tightened like a tourniquet to reduce bleeding, and the foreskin is removed above the clamp. The clamp is then removed. A numbing medication may be injected into the penis, or a topical cream may be used, to reduce pain prior to the procedure.

Using the second method, a plastic clamp remains in place, shutting off the blood supply to the foreskin. The clamp and dried up foreskin will both fall off after 5 to 8 days.

The healing time for a circumcised newborn is usually about a week. Be sure to apply petroleum jelly to the circumcised area after each diaper change to protect the healing incision. You may see some swelling and some yellow crust may form while the incision is healing. This is normal, so don't worry.

After your baby boy has been circumcised, you'll want to keep an eye on how he's healing. Be sure to call your pediatrician or surgeon if any of these things happen:

• fresh bleeding occurs
• the entire penis looks red and swollen
• pus drains from around the incision
• pain becomes severe or lasts longer than expected