First two sons were circumcised, thinking of opting out for third. Any btdt parents ?

[Anonymous]

I am pretty mainstream- vaccinated children, trust doctors, but am open-minded enough to consider different options. A well meaning friend has bombarded me with information about why circumcision is unnecessary, and now I am seriously considering not having our third son circumcised. I did it before because everyone in my family has done it and my husband wanted to have it done. If I decided to not circumcise my third, it will be a huge battle with DH and I worry new DS will feel "different." Has anyone taken this route before?

[Anonymous]

I envision lots of teasing in your future.

[Anonymous]

My good friend's husband is not circ'd and his brother is- no issues growing up (and this from a time when it was much more common to do it).

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I envision lots of teasing in your future.

That's what I am afraid of!! I would hate to traumatize him just for trying to save him some pain.

[Anonymous]

Why would you risk the peace in your marriage if your DH feels strongly the other way. There may not be a need for circumcision but there are reasons for it. I wouldn't want my 3rd constantly asking me about it. It would rip off the scab that formed after the fights DH and I would have over it.

[Anonymous]

We did...struggled with it but in the end went with. I recently spoke with a friend whose nephew (yes, from a normal, clean family) had to have it done at age 11 due to constant irritation, etc. It was just too hard to keep clean of dirt, sweat, etc. I am certain this is not an issue for everyone, but it was enough to reassure me of my own decision!

[Anonymous]

We have three penises in our house and they all look so different from one another that I can't imagine a particular focus on circ or not. My DH's is circ'd and adult size, thankfully. Our sons are uncirc'd but different shapes and sizes from each other. If you have DDs their breasts won't look alike and that's okay. Their labia won't either but they'll be less like to compare those.

[Anonymous]

I think it would be awful to not circumcise him! Why would you even consider not doing it?????

[Anonymous]

Oh shut up, troll.

[Anonymous]

My own feeling is mothers get no say in this one if Dad feels strongly one way or another.

[Anonymous]

I agree totally. This is Dads decision, in my mind.

And I would circ the third son if you did the other two. Yes, it will be a big deal amonst the three of them.

My DD's have size A, C, and DD breasts. While it is not a huge deal, kids do notice these differences and compare.

[Anonymous]

I don't think it's totally Dad's decision, but given it's going to result in a "huge battle" and you seems sort of ambivalent, why not just do it?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I don't think it's totally Dad's decision, but given it's going to result in a "huge battle" and you seems sort of ambivalent, why not just do it?

OP was pretty clear it's that she thinks it might not be necessary. Not even the most ardent pro-circers think it's _necessary_.

[Anonymous]

My friend has four brothers. The older two are circumcised, the younger two (when her parents became more educated on the matter) are not. The youngest (now in their 20s) are very grateful to their parents for leaving them intact and it was never an issue for them growing up.

Please don't do his because you think it is the social norm. It's pretty major damage to the penis without any real health benefits or any reason to do this. It's also not really your decision to make. Leave it up to your son. My husband (before I was even pregnant) was in favor of circumcision. I made it very clear that I would press charges against anyone who surgically removed part of any son of mine's penis and he realized how strongly I felt. Then he learned a little more about the process and the lack of medical support for the procedure and now he doesn't even remember that he had previously been in favor of it. (I've overheard him playing with my youngest during diaper changes, laughing with him and praising him for "being lucky" that he has "his whole penis".)

[Anonymous]

I think you are the anti-intact troll who has infant genitals on the mind lately (3 threads up counting this one).

But anyway, I have two sons-- one intact and one cut. The older is cut and the majority of his age-mates aren't (preschoolers). So we left our newborn as-is. We live in the District, so I imagine the trend away from circ is happening in cities first and will trickle to the 'burbs and rural areas in the next few years.