Who performs circumcisions (other than mohels)?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are some mohels who provide the service in non-religious settings. I have no idea how to find them, but have heard this statement made. I've also heard that mohels are better at circumcisions than doctors (sweeping generalization I realize) because they do so many more of them.

Don't wait too long. After a few days, the procedure becomes more complicated, painful. My ped said that if you changed your mind after ~10 days (skipped the procedure then wanted it later) it had to be done by a pediatric urologist, with more extensive pain management (because it was more painful).

Is that true? I'm Jewish and was thinking about having a doc do it instead of a mohel and then partaking in the ceremonial aspect of a bris because I am worried about it. I also am not sure how I feel about it being done without pain management. I hear that it can be done at the hospital by a doc and still conform to the Jewish tradition (I think a prayer is said beforehand). I was going to look into that.

Look into Lou Marmon. He's a mohel and a pediatric surgeon.

[Anonymous]

Thank you for the Lou Marmon recommendation. I just googled him and found a gazillion links. They are 1/2 for his mohel/medical skills and the other 1/2 are related to his expertise as a wine connoisseur. Ha! As long as he can keep his personal and professional lives separate!

[Anonymous]

I don't think they would "flame you to a crisp," but it's highly unlikely that a midwife would be supportive of circumcision, and would probably be more likely to offer you anti-circ information. So if you're not open to hearing about why circ is a bad idea, it might be better not to ask them about it.

FWIW, I am passionately anti-circ. I have seen discussions on MDC amongst midwives and doulas and how they deal with having clients who choose to circ; some find it very upsetting. I don't think I've ever seen anyone post in favor of it, but most would not say anything to a client about their own view (but also probably wouldn't be a good source of information on where to have one done).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are some mohels who provide the service in non-religious settings. I have no idea how to find them, but have heard this statement made. I've also heard that mohels are better at circumcisions than doctors (sweeping generalization I realize) because they do so many more of them.

Don't wait too long. After a few days, the procedure becomes more complicated, painful. My ped said that if you changed your mind after ~10 days (skipped the procedure then wanted it later) it had to be done by a pediatric urologist, with more extensive pain management (because it was more painful).

Is that true? I'm Jewish and was thinking about having a doc do it instead of a mohel and then partaking in the ceremonial aspect of a bris because I am worried about it. I also am not sure how I feel about it being done without pain management. I hear that it can be done at the hospital by a doc and still conform to the Jewish tradition (I think a prayer is said beforehand). I was going to look into that.

I'm (nominally) Jewish and had my sons circ'd in the hospital by the OB who delivered them. I have heard of Jewish families that do the circ in the hospital and then have a naming at home -- what you would do for a girl (minus the circ, of course), I guess. So you might want to talk to your rabbi about options.

Also check with Dr. Andrew Engel; he's a DC OB who is also a mohel.

[Anonymous]

FWIW, we used Louis Marmon and he was wonderful. He totally put me at ease and DS did great from beginning to end.

[Anonymous]

Make it easier on yourself and just don't do it.

[Anonymous]

I think an OB would still be the one to do it and you could just go back to a hospital where they are on staff and schedule it. My sister in law's OB routinely does circumcisions about a week after the birth instead of during the 2 day hospital stay, so people bring the baby back to the hospital.

I would ask your midwives to recommend an OB. Frankly if they turned all snotty about it I don't know if I'd want them to be my midwifes anyway....

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Make it easier on yourself and just don't do it.

Yep. Seriously, just skip it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Make it easier on yourself and just don't do it.

Yep. Seriously, just skip it.

Oh, please. Make it easier on all of us and go away.

[Anonymous]

Although the American Assoc of Pediatrics not supported circumcision for quite a few years, new studies by the CDC showing that (1) circumcision reduces the rate of HIV acquisition in men and (2) circumcised men are less likely to pass on STDs to women is leading many to think that the CDC will recommend circumcision in the near future. At present, though, the AAP still does not recommend circumcision.

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/circumcision.htm

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Although the American Assoc of Pediatrics not supported circumcision for quite a few years, new studies by the CDC showing that (1) circumcision reduces the rate of HIV acquisition in men and (2) circumcised men are less likely to pass on STDs to women is leading many to think that the CDC will recommend circumcision in the near future. At present, though, the AAP still does not recommend circumcision.

http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/circumcision.htm

Circumcision is a "cure" looking for a disease. Maybe if they keep looking, one day they'll convince themselves they've found a justification.

Circumcision used to cure insanity, masterbation, sexual perversion, epilepsy, gout, etc.

[Anonymous]

back to the real question. i have several friends who have used engel, one as a mohel and one as an OB and both were very happy. my son's bris was by rabbi henesch, who is both loved and hated around here. he does not use anesthesia. my son did not cry or bleed. my nephew's was done by an OB (and my FIL) with local anesthesia and he cried and bled like crazy for a long time. having seen it both ways, i would recommend no anesthesia and that you ask your ped for a recommendation of someone who can do it within the first 10 days or so (as I have heard the same thing, if you wait too long it gets more complicated).

[Anonymous]

The Reform Jewish movement requires that all their mohels be physicians. Most of the ones in the DC/Baltimore area are OB's. You can view a directory of Reform mohels at http://www.beritmila.org/index.htm . Many of them will do non-ritual circumcision as well. I'd recommend calling or emailing in advance of the birth of your son before choosing a provider. We went with Dr. Steven Adashek who came to our home and provided a lovely ceremony in addition to a quick and neat procedure. He used an injected local anestetic. The actual circumcision took less than a minute.

Our midwives at a birth center did have a list of providers available for us, both mohels and non-mohel doctors for circumcision.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Don't wait too long. After a few days, the procedure becomes more complicated, painful. My ped said that if you changed your mind after ~10 days (skipped the procedure then wanted it later) it had to be done by a pediatric urologist, with more extensive pain management (because it was more painful).

This is simply not true. Did you know that ALL surgery on newborns used to be done without anesthetic, because "babies don't feel pain". Even as recently as the 1970's....open heart surgery....no pain meds....

Anyway, there are vast amounts of research documenting the amount of pain babies can feel during circumcision and otherwise. Circumcision is very painful, no matter when it is done. The only reason babies are not given general anesthetic for the surgery is because it is not safe to give a newborn general. The only reason the myth that "it doesn't hurt babies as much" and "it's not that big of a deal for newborns" persists is because babies can't tell us verbally what they are experiencing.

When an older child is circumcised, the surgery is easier and less painful because 1) the foreskin doesn't need to be ripped from the glans (it is already separated in an older male) 2) the person can get general anesthetic and feel nothing during the surgery and 3) the person can get post-op pain relief.


OP - why not let your son decide for himself if he wants this surgery done?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Thank you for the Lou Marmon recommendation. I just googled him and found a gazillion links. They are 1/2 for his mohel/medical skills and the other 1/2 are related to his expertise as a wine connoisseur. Ha! As long as he can keep his personal and professional lives separate!

That's hillarious! I'm the pp who suggested Lou Marmon. He circumsized my twin boys. He also gave them a little bit of wine, but I don't think it was from his favorite vineyard!