[blparent] [Bulk] Re: [Bulk] Re: [Bulk] bathing an infant
Tammy, Paul and Colyn
tcl189 at rogers.com
Wed Jul 1 21:54:00 UTC 2009
Hi,
I don't think anyone is disrespecting anybody's choices here at all.
Sometimes a little healthy debaie is a good thing. smile
Tammy
----- Original Message -----
From: "Deborah Kent Stein" <dkent5817 at worldnet.att.net>
To: "NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 12:49 PM
Subject: [Bulk] Re: [blparent] [Bulk] Re: [Bulk] bathing an infant
>
>
> Hi, Tammy,
>
> Okay. Point well made. However, we must respect each other's choices,
> whether or not we agree with them.
>
> Debbie
>
>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Tammy, Paul and Colyn" <tcl189 at rogers.com>
> To: "NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
> Sent: Wednesday, July 01, 2009 9:39 AM
> Subject: Re: [blparent] [Bulk] Re: [Bulk] bathing an infant
>
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> Sorry Debra but I disagree with you on this point. Whether to circumsize
>> or not is most definitely a blindness issue because cleaning and care of
>> the penis differs when uncirced and blind. A sighted person can just
>> point and show, where a parent who is blind and showing their child has
>> to be hands on, which may cause some problems for them, their child, or
>> others. This whole thread started because we were talking about cleaning
>> genetles and people calling social services because they thought we were
>> touching our kids too much. It's important that we are allowed to talk
>> about this issue because new blind parents need to know the risks and
>> benefits of having their child circumsized or not from a blindness
>> perspective.
>>
>> Tammy
>> ----- Original Message -----
>> From: "Deborah Kent Stein" <dkent5817 at worldnet.att.net>
>> To: "NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
>> Sent: Tuesday, June 30, 2009 8:17 PM
>> Subject: [Bulk] Re: [blparent] [Bulk] bathing an infant
>>
>>
>>>
>>>
>>> I realize that circumcision is an important choice parents of boys have
>>> to make, but this is not a blindness issue. Please let's move on.
>>>
>>> Debbie
>>>
>>> ----- Original Message -----
>>> From: "Amber Boggs" <amberboggs at socal.rr.com>
>>> To: "NFBnet Blind Parents Mailing List" <blparent at nfbnet.org>
>>> Sent: Monday, June 29, 2009 3:06 PM
>>> Subject: Re: [blparent] [Bulk] bathing an infant
>>>
>>>
>>>> Alizabith, Not to be rude, but do you have an intact boy? Were you
>>>> around the mother every second of the day to no what and how she was
>>>> doing with her kid? Have you red books articles etc from well known
>>>> and respected PEDS and doctors on Circomsition? Have you visited
>>>> nocirc.org and red the articles on The care of an intact boy? If no to
>>>> any of these questions, then I would be happy to pass on some
>>>> information t oyou. I have no problems debaiting to circ or not to, and
>>>> feel very strongly about keeping a boy intact, but to sit and see
>>>> someone giving advice and telling people what will and can happen when
>>>> they do not have one all the facts, and two have a circed boy and are
>>>> only going on second hand experience, it makes me crazy. Here is just
>>>> one of many many articles and well resurched advice about an intact
>>>> baby and man.
>>>> Note this Part. "Thanks to the foreskin, the intact penis is protected
>>>> from dirt
>>>> and contamination.
>>>> While this important protective function is extremely useful while the
>>>> baby is in
>>>> diapers, the foreskin provides protection to the glans and urinary
>>>> opening for a
>>>> lifetime. At all ages, the foreskin keeps the glans safe, soft, and
>>>> clean.
>>>> Throughout childhood, there is no need to wash underneath the foreskin.
>>>> Mothers used
>>>> to be advised to retract the foreskin and wash beneath it every day.
>>>> This was very
>>>> bad advice indeed. When the foreskin becomes fully retractable, usually
>>>> by the end
>>>> of puberty, your son can retract it and rinse his glans with warm water
>>>> while he
>>>> is in the shower."
>>>> Protect Your Uncircumcised Son: Expert Medical Advice for Parents
>>>> By Paul M. Fleiss
>>>> Mothering Magazine, Issue 103, November/December 103
>>>> Increasing numbers of American parents today are protecting their sons
>>>> from routine
>>>> circumcision at birth, but as their boys grow up, they often find
>>>> themselves at odds
>>>> with doctors who cling to old-fashioned opinions and hospital routines.
>>>> I often receive calls from distraught parents who say that a doctor
>>>> insists that
>>>> their little boy needs to be circumcised because there is something
>>>> wrong. When they
>>>> bring their son into my office, I almost always find that there's
>>>> nothing wrong with
>>>> the child's penis. Occasionally there's a slight infection, but that
>>>> can be quickly
>>>> cleared up with an antibiotic cream. In all my years of practice, I've
>>>> never had
>>>> a patient who had to be circumcised for medical reasons.
>>>> When a doctor advises that your son be circumcised, it's usually
>>>> because he or she
>>>> is unfamiliar with the intact penis, misinformed about the true
>>>> indications for surgical
>>>> amputation of the foreskin, unaware of the functions of the foreskin,
>>>> and uncomfortable
>>>> with the movement away from routine circumcision.
>>>> Doctors can be psychologically challenged by the sight of an intact
>>>> boy. They may
>>>> see problems with the penis that do not really exist. They may try to
>>>> convince you
>>>> that the natural penis is somehow difficult to care for. They may cite
>>>> "studies"
>>>> and "statistics" that appear to support circumcision.
>>>> Probably, the only problem you will encounter with the foreskin of your
>>>> intact boy
>>>> is that someone will think that he has a problem. The foreskin is a
>>>> perfectly normal
>>>> part of the human body, and it has very definite purposes, as do all
>>>> body parts,
>>>> even if we do not readily recognize them. There's no need to worry
>>>> about your son's
>>>> intact penis.
>>>> What to Say When the Doctor Says to Cut
>>>> Below is a list of some of the things that doctors have said to parents
>>>> in an attempt
>>>> to convince them to agree to circumcision. After each incorrect
>>>> statement, I've given
>>>> the medical facts to help you understand what your doctor may not know
>>>> about the
>>>> intact penis and its care, and what you need to know to protect your
>>>> child from unnecessary
>>>> penile surgery. If you ever find yourself in a situation where a doctor
>>>> suggests
>>>> that your child should be circumcised, the best thing that you can say
>>>> is simply:
>>>> "Leave it alone."
>>>> -Your son's foreskin should be cut off in order to facilitate hygiene.
>>>> My experience as a pediatrician has convinced me that circumcision
>>>> makes the penis
>>>> dirtier, a fact that was confirmed by a study recently published in the
>>>> British Journal
>>>> of Urology.1 For at least a week after circumcision, the baby is left
>>>> with a large
>>>> open wound that is in almost constant contact with urine and
>>>> feces--hardly a hygienic
>>>> advantage. Additionally, throughout life the circumcised penis is open
>>>> and exposed
>>>> to dirt and contaminants of all kinds. The wrinkles and folds that
>>>> often form around
>>>> the circumcision scar frequently harbor dirt and germs.
>>>> Thanks to the foreskin, the intact penis is protected from dirt and
>>>> contamination.
>>>> While this important protective function is extremely useful while the
>>>> baby is in
>>>> diapers, the foreskin provides protection to the glans and urinary
>>>> opening for a
>>>> lifetime. At all ages, the foreskin keeps the glans safe, soft, and
>>>> clean.
>>>> Throughout childhood, there is no need to wash underneath the foreskin.
>>>> Mothers used
>>>> to be advised to retract the foreskin and wash beneath it every day.
>>>> This was very
>>>> bad advice indeed. When the foreskin becomes fully retractable, usually
>>>> by the end
>>>> of puberty, your son can retract it and rinse his glans with warm water
>>>> while he
>>>> is in the shower.
>>>> -Your son's foreskin is too tight. It doesn't retract. He needs to be
>>>> circumcised.
>>>> The tightness of the foreskin is a safety mechanism that protects the
>>>> glans and urethra
>>>> from direct exposure to contaminants and germs. The tight foreskin also
>>>> keeps the
>>>> boy's glans warm, clean, and moist, and when he is an adult, it will
>>>> give him pleasure.
>>>> As long as your son can urinate, he is perfectly normal. There is no
>>>> age by which
>>>> a child's foreskin must be retractable. Do not let your doctor or
>>>> anyone try to retract
>>>> your child's foreskin. Optimal hygiene of the penis demands that the
>>>> foreskin of
>>>> infants and children be left alone. Premature retraction rips the skin
>>>> of the penis
>>>> open and causes your child extreme pain. There is no legitimate medical
>>>> justification
>>>> for retraction. The child's discomfort is proof of that.
>>>> -Your son's foreskin is "adhered" to the glans. It must be amputated.
>>>> The attachment of the foreskin and glans is nature's way of protecting
>>>> the undeveloped
>>>> glans from premature exposure. Detachment is a normal physiological
>>>> process that
>>>> can take up to two decades to complete. By the end of puberty, the
>>>> foreskin will
>>>> have detached from the glans because hormones that are produced in
>>>> great quantities
>>>> at puberty help with the process. There is no age by which a child's
>>>> foreskin must
>>>> be fully separated from the glans.
>>>> Some misguided doctors might suggest that the "adhesions" between the
>>>> foreskin and
>>>> glans should be broken so that your son can retract his foreskin. This
>>>> procedure
>>>> is called synechotomy. To perform it, the doctor pushes a blunt metal
>>>> probe under
>>>> the foreskin and forcibly rips it from the glans. It's as painful and
>>>> traumatic as
>>>> having a metal probe stuck under your fingernail to pull if off. It
>>>> will also cause
>>>> bleeding and may result in infection and scarring of the inner lining
>>>> of the foreskin
>>>> and the glans. The wounds that are created by this forced separation
>>>> can fuse together,
>>>> causing true adhesions. There is no medical justification for this
>>>> procedure because
>>>> the foreskin is not supposed to be separated from the glans in
>>>> childhood. If any
>>>> doctor suggests this procedure for your son, firmly refuse, stating,
>>>> "Leave it alone!"
>>>> -Your son's foreskin is getting tighter. It no longer retracts.
>>>> Something is wrong.
>>>> He will have to be circumcised.
>>>> Sometimes, in childhood, a previously retractable foreskin will become
>>>> resistant
>>>> to retraction for reasons that are unrelated to impending puberty. In
>>>> these cases,
>>>> the opening of the foreskin may look chapped and sting when your son
>>>> urinates. This
>>>> is not an indication for surgery any more than chapped lips. This is
>>>> just the foreskin
>>>> doing its job. If the foreskin were not there, the glans and urinary
>>>> opening would
>>>> be chapped instead. Chapping is most often caused by ov erly
>>>> chlorinated swimming
>>>> pools, harsh soap, bubble baths, or a diet that is too high in sugar,
>>>> all of which
>>>> destroy the natural balance of skin bacteria and should be avoided if
>>>> chapping occurs.
>>>> The foreskin becomes resistant to retraction until a natural and
>>>> healthy bacterial
>>>> balance is reestablished.
>>>> You can aid healing by having your son apply a little barrier cream or
>>>> some ointment
>>>> to the opening of the foreskin. Acidophilus culture (which can be
>>>> purchased from
>>>> a health food store) can be taken internally and also applied to the
>>>> foreskin several
>>>> times a day to assist healing, and should be given any time a child is
>>>> taking antibiotics.
>>>> -Your son's foreskin is red, inflamed, itching, and uncomfortable. It
>>>> has an infection
>>>> and needs to be cut off.
>>>> Sometimes the tip of the foreskin does become reddened. During the
>>>> diaper-wearing
>>>> years, this is usually ammoniacal dermatitis, commonly known as diaper
>>>> rash. When
>>>> normal skin bacteria and feces react with urine, they produce ammonia,
>>>> which burns
>>>> the skin and causes inflammation and discomfort. If the foreskin were
>>>> amputated,
>>>> the inflammation would be on the glans itself and could enter the
>>>> urethra. When the
>>>> foreskin becomes reddened, it is doing its job of protecting the glans
>>>> and urinary
>>>> meatus.
>>>> Circumcision will have no effect on diaper rash. Change your baby's
>>>> diapers more
>>>> frequently and use a barrier cream until the rash clears. Harsh bath
>>>> soaps can also
>>>> cause inflammation of the foreskin. Use only the gentlest and purest of
>>>> soap on your
>>>> child's tender skin. Resist the temptation to give your child bubble
>>>> baths, because
>>>> these are harmful to the skin. Never use soap to wash the inner
>>>> foreskin because
>>>> it is mucous membrane, just like the inner lining of the eyelid.
>>>> Foreskin infections are extremely rare, but if they occur, one of the
>>>> many simple
>>>> treatment options is antibiotic ointment along with bacterial
>>>> replacement therapy
>>>> (Acidophilus culture). We don't amputate body parts because of an
>>>> infection. Most
>>>> infections of the foreskin are actually caused by washing the foreskin
>>>> with soap.
>>>> Leave the foreskin alone, remembering that it doesn't need any special
>>>> washing, and
>>>> infections will be unlikely to occur.
>>>> -Your son is always pulling on his foreskin. He should be circumcised.
>>>> I can assure you that, whether circumcised or not, all little boys
>>>> touch and pull
>>>> on their penis. It is perfectly normal. Intact boys pull on the
>>>> foreskin because
>>>> it is there to pull on. Circumcised boys pull on the glans because that
>>>> is all they
>>>> have to pull on. Little boys sometimes will adjust the position of
>>>> their penis in
>>>> their underpants. They will also sometimes explore the interior of the
>>>> foreskin with
>>>> their fingers--a perfectly normal curiosity and nothing to worry about.
>>>> It is important
>>>> for parents to cultivate an enlightened and tender congeniality about
>>>> such matters,
>>>> otherwise they risk transferring unhealthy attitudes to their children.
>>>> Sometimes a boy will pull on his foreskin because it itches. All parts
>>>> of the body
>>>> itch occasionally. Even a circumcised boy has to scratch his penis.
>>>> Just as you don't
>>>> worry every time your child scratches his knee, so you should not worry
>>>> when he scratches
>>>> his penis. If the itch is caused by dry skin, then have your son avoid
>>>> using soap
>>>> on his penis. Treat the foreskin just as you would any other part of
>>>> the body.
>>>> If the real fear is of masturbation, calmly remind yourself of the
>>>> simple, natural
>>>> fact that all children will explore their bodies, including their
>>>> genitals. Touching
>>>> their genitals gives children a pleasant feeling and relaxes them.
>>>> Classic anatomical
>>>> studies demonstrate that the foreskin is the most pleasurably sensitive
>>>> part of the
>>>> penis. You can congratulate yourself for having protected your child
>>>> from a surgical
>>>> amputation that would have permanently denied him normal sensations.
>>>> -Your son's foreskin is too long. It should be cut off.
>>>> There is tremendous variation in foreskin length. In some boys, the
>>>> foreskin represents
>>>> over half the length of the penis. In others, it barely reaches the end
>>>> of the glans.
>>>> All variations are normal. The foreskin is never "just extra skin" or
>>>> "redundant."
>>>> It is all there for a reason.
>>>> -Your child should be circumcised now because it will hurt more if it
>>>> has to be done
>>>> later, or worse, when he is an adult.
>>>> This excuse is tragically wrong and has resulted in a very serious
>>>> crisis in American
>>>> medical practice. It's based on the false idea that infants and young
>>>> children don't
>>>> feel pain. Babies can see, hear, taste, smell, and feel. In fact,
>>>> babies feel pain
>>>> more acutely than adults, and the younger the baby, the more acutely
>>>> the pain is
>>>> felt. If an adult needed to be circumcised, he would be given
>>>> anesthesia and postoperative
>>>> pain relief. Doctors almost never give babies either of these. The only
>>>> reason doctors
>>>> get away with circumcising babies without anesthesia is because the
>>>> baby is defenseless
>>>> and cannot protect himself. His screams of pain, terror, and agony are
>>>> ignored. In
>>>> any event, this all too common excuse is merely a scare tactic, one
>>>> with tragic consequences
>>>> for any baby forced to endure a surgical amputation without the benefit
>>>> of anesthesia.
>>>> -Since your son is having anesthesia for another operation, we'll just
>>>> go ahead and
>>>> circumcise him.
>>>> Most parents are never told that their son is in danger of being
>>>> circumcised during
>>>> a tonsillectomy or surgery for a hernia or an undescended testicle. It
>>>> would never
>>>> occur to them. If your child is going into the hospital for any reason,
>>>> be certain
>>>> that you tell the physician, surgeon, and nurse that under no
>>>> circumstances is your
>>>> child to be circumcised. Write "No Circumcision" on the consent form,
>>>> too. Then if
>>>> your child is circumcised against your wishes, remember that you do
>>>> have legal recourse.
>>>> -Your son has cysts under his foreskin. He needs to be circumcised.
>>>> During the period when the foreskin is undergoing the slow process of
>>>> detaching itself
>>>> from the glans, sloughed skin cells (smegma) may collect into small
>>>> pockets of white
>>>> "pearls." These are not cysts. Some doctors mistakenly think that the
>>>> smegma under
>>>> the foreskin is an infection, even though it is white rather than red,
>>>> is cold to
>>>> the touch, and is painless. As the foreskin proceeds with detachment,
>>>> the body will
>>>> do its job, and these pearls will pass out of the foreskin all by
>>>> themselves. These
>>>> collected pockets of cells are nothing to worry about. They are simply
>>>> an indication
>>>> that the natural process of detachment is occurring.
>>>> -Your son has a urinary tract infection (UTI) and needs to be
>>>> circumcised to prevent
>>>> it from happening again.
>>>> The belief that the foreskin slightly increases the chances of a boy
>>>> having a UTI
>>>> is highly controversial and, more importantly, unproven. Members of the
>>>> medical profession
>>>> in Europe do not accept it. Medical research proves that UTIs are most
>>>> often caused
>>>> by internal congenital deformities of the urinary tract. 2,3,4 The
>>>> foreskin has nothing
>>>> to do with this. Even if it could be proven that circumcision slightly
>>>> reduces the
>>>> risk of UTI, it is an absurd proposal because UTIs in boys are
>>>> extremely rare and
>>>> are easily treated with antibiotics. Breastfeeding, too, helps prevent
>>>> UTIs. Child-friendly
>>>> doctors advocate breastfeeding not penile surgery.
>>>> -Your son sprays when he urinates. Circumcision will correct this.
>>>> In almost every intact boy, the urine stream flows out of the urinary
>>>> opening in
>>>> the glans and through the foreskin in a neat stream. During the process
>>>> of penile
>>>> growth and development, some boys go through a period where the urine
>>>> stream is diffused.
>>>> Undoubtedly, many of these boys take great delight in this phase, while
>>>> mothers,
>>>> understandably, find it less amusing. If your boy has entered a
>>>> spraying phase, simply
>>>> instruct him to retract his foreskin enough to expose the meatus when
>>>> he urinates.
>>>> He will soon outgrow this phase.
>>>> -Your son's foreskin balloons when he urinates. He needs to be
>>>> circumcised or else
>>>> he will suffer kidney damage.
>>>> Ballooning of the foreskin during urination is a normal and temporary
>>>> condition in
>>>> some boys. It results in no discomfort and is usually a source of great
>>>> delight for
>>>> little boys. Ballooning comes as a surprise only to those adults who
>>>> have no experience
>>>> with this phase of penile development. It certainly does not cause
>>>> kidney damage;
>>>> it has nothing to do with the kidneys. Ballooning disappears as the
>>>> foreskin and
>>>> glans separate and the opening of the foreskin increases in diameter.
>>>> It requires
>>>> no treatment.
>>>> -Your son caught his foreskin in the zipper of his trousers; we will
>>>> have to cut
>>>> it off.
>>>> There have been rare cases where a boy has accidentally caught part of
>>>> the skin of
>>>> his penis in the zipper of his trousers. This is painful and can cause
>>>> a lot of bleeding.
>>>> Cutting off the foreskin, however, is illogical in this situation. By
>>>> cutting across
>>>> the bottom of the zipper with scissors, the zipper can easily be opened
>>>> to release
>>>> the penile tissue. Any lacerations in the skin can then be closed with
>>>> either sutures
>>>> or surgical tape, depending on the situation. The proper standard of
>>>> care in this
>>>> situation is to minimize and repair the injury, not make it worse by
>>>> cutting off
>>>> the foreskin and creating a larger and more painful surgical wound.
>>>> -Your son has phimosis. He needs to be circumcised to correct this
>>>> problem.
>>>> Phimosis is often used as a diagnosis when a doctor does not understand
>>>> that the
>>>> child's foreskin is supposed to be long, narrow, attached to the glans,
>>>> and resistant
>>>> to retraction. Some doctors are prescribing steroid creams for
>>>> phimosis, but this
>>>> is unnecessary in children, since the foreskin does not need to be
>>>> retractable in
>>>> young boys. The hormones of puberty will do the same thing at the
>>>> appropriate time
>>>> that a steroid cream is doing prematurely. In adults who still have a
>>>> foreskin that
>>>> is attached to the glans or a foreskin with such a narrow opening that
>>>> the glans
>>>> cannot easily pass through it, steroid creams are a conservative
>>>> therapy. This is
>>>> if the adult wants a foreskin that fully retracts. Many males don't,
>>>> preferring a
>>>> foreskin that remains securely over the glans. It is purely a matter of
>>>> personal
>>>> choice, one that only each male can decide for himself.
>>>> -Your son has paraphimosis and must be circumcised to prevent it from
>>>> happening again.
>>>> Paraphimosis is a rare dislocation of the foreskin. It is caused by the
>>>> foreskin
>>>> being prematurely retracted and becoming stuck behind the glans. The
>>>> dislocation
>>>> can most often be corrected by applying firm but gentle pressure on the
>>>> glans with
>>>> the thumbs, as if you were pushing a cork into a bottle. To reduce the
>>>> swelling,
>>>> an injection of hyaluronidase may be effective. Doctors in Britain have
>>>> also reported
>>>> good results from packing the penis in granulated sugar.5 Ice packs
>>>> work well, too.
>>>> -Your son has BXO and will have to be circumcised.
>>>> Some doctors equate phimosis with an extremely rare skin disorder
>>>> called balanitis
>>>> xerotica obliterans (BXO), which is also called lichen sclerosus et
>>>> atrophicus (LSA).
>>>> BXO can appear anywhere on the body, but if this disorder affects the
>>>> foreskin, it
>>>> may turn the opening of the foreskin hard, white, sclerotic, and make
>>>> retraction
>>>> almost impossible. BXO is usually painless and progresses very slowly.
>>>> Many times,
>>>> it goes away by itself. To an experienced dermatologist, there is no
>>>> mistaking BXO,
>>>> but a diagnosis must be confirmed by a biopsy. The good news is that
>>>> BXO can almost
>>>> always be successfully cured with steroid creams, carbon dioxide laser
>>>> treatment,
>>>> or even antibiotics. Circumcision should be considered only after every
>>>> other treatment
>>>> option has failed. Just as we do not amputate the labia of females with
>>>> BXO or the
>>>> glans of circumcised boys with BXO, it is logical that we should not
>>>> amputate the
>>>> foreskin of intact boys with BXO.
>>>> -Your son needs to be circumcised or else he won't enjoy oral sex as an
>>>> adult.
>>>> I'm afraid that doctors really have said such inappropriate things to
>>>> parents. Such
>>>> a statement is evidence of ignorance of the normal functions and
>>>> sensations of the
>>>> intact penis. Classic anatomical investigations have proven that the
>>>> foreskin is
>>>> the most richly innervated part of the penis. It has specialized nerve
>>>> receptors
>>>> that are directly connected to the pleasure centers of the brain. Your
>>>> intact son
>>>> is far better equipped to enjoy all aspects of lovemaking than his
>>>> circumcised peers.
>>>> The myth that American women prefer the circumcised penis is, in my
>>>> opinion, demeaning
>>>> to women. It may be true that American women of a certain generation
>>>> and social background
>>>> were more likely to be familiar with the circumcised penis than the
>>>> intact penis,
>>>> but this was the result of the mass circumcision campaigns of the 1950s
>>>> not personal
>>>> preference. I suspect that what women prefer in men is more related to
>>>> the personal
>>>> qualities of consideration, gentleness, sensitivity, warmth, and
>>>> supportiveness.
>>>> It is very unlikely that circumcision increases a male's capacity to
>>>> develop these
>>>> qualities.
>>>> -Your son needs to be circumcised so that he looks like his father.
>>>> A child is a mixture of both his mother's and his father's genetic
>>>> heritage. He doesn't
>>>> need to look like his father, nor will he ever look like his father in
>>>> every way.
>>>> Each child is a unique gift, and that uniqueness should be cherished.
>>>> The idea that
>>>> a boy will be disturbed if his penis does not look like his father's
>>>> was invented
>>>> to manipulate people into letting doctors circumcise their children. It
>>>> has no basis
>>>> in medical fact.
>>>> There are no published reports of an intact boy being disturbed because
>>>> part of his
>>>> penis was not cut off when he realized that part of his father's penis
>>>> had been cut
>>>> off. When intact boys with circumcised fathers express their feelings
>>>> on the matter,
>>>> they consistently report their immense relief and gratitude that they
>>>> were spared
>>>> penile surgery. They express sadness, as well, for the suffering their
>>>> dads experienced
>>>> as infants.6
>>>> Occasionally, a circumcised father will state that he wants his child
>>>> circumcised
>>>> because he thinks that it will create a bond between him and his son.
>>>> It is a wonderful
>>>> thing for a father to want to establish such a bond, but circumcision
>>>> cannot accomplish
>>>> this worthy goal. If a father wants to establish a lasting and
>>>> meaningful bond with
>>>> his son, the very best way, and perhaps the only way, he can achieve
>>>> this is by spending
>>>> quality time with him and by showing him much affection.
>>>> Sadly, some fathers who have been circumcised have an unhealthy
>>>> attitude and may
>>>> look for any excuse to schedule the child for circumcision. Putting a
>>>> child in a
>>>> position where he fears that part of his penis is going to be cut off
>>>> is abusive.
>>>> When fathers demand that their sons be circumcised, I suspect that they
>>>> are desperately
>>>> trying to justify their own circumcised condition. The emotions that
>>>> some fathers
>>>> feel when they are forced to confront the fact that part of their own
>>>> penis is missing
>>>> can be so disturbing that they will do anything to block them out.
>>>> A father who forcibly circumcises his son will not win his son's
>>>> gratitude, affection,
>>>> trust, or love. I am aware of instances where such events have
>>>> permanently destroyed
>>>> the father-son bond and changed a son's love for his father into rage
>>>> and bitter
>>>> resentment. In situations where the father suffers from an unhealthy
>>>> attitude about
>>>> his son's normal penis, I think it is best for everyone
>>>> concerned--especially the
>>>> son--for the father to receive compassionate psychological counseling
>>>> to help him
>>>> overcome his problem. All children deserve the saf est, most nurturing,
>>>> and most
>>>> loving home possible.
>>>> When physicians realize the important functions of the foreskin,
>>>> they'll realize
>>>> that just about every problem with it can and should be solved without
>>>> cutting it
>>>> off. Cutting off part of the body--especially part of the penis--is an
>>>> extreme measure
>>>> that should be reserved for the most extreme of circumstances. The only
>>>> legitimate
>>>> indications for cutting off any part of the body, including the
>>>> foreskin, are life-threatening
>>>> disease, life-threatening deformity, or irreparable damage. These
>>>> situations are
>>>> extremely rare.
>>>> The best advice for the care of the intact penis is simply to leave it
>>>> alone. The
>>>> intact penis needs no special care. Let your boy take care of it
>>>> himself, and when
>>>> he's old enough, he will enjoy taking care of his own body. After all,
>>>> it's his business.
>>>> Just relax and avoid worrying about your son's intact penis. Remind
>>>> yourself that
>>>> the foreskin is a normal and natural part of the body. If European boys
>>>> grow up healthy
>>>> and unconcerned with their foreskins, so can your son.
>>>> NOTES
>>>> 1. R. S. Van Howe, "Variability in Penile Appearance and Penile
>>>> Findings: A Prospective
>>>> Study," British Journal of Urology 80, no. 5 (November 1997): 776-782.
>>>> 2. J. Winberg, I. Bollgren, L. Gothefors, M. Herthelius, and K. Tullus,
>>>> "The Prepuce:
>>>> A Mistake of Nature?" The Lancet 8638, no. 1 (March 1989): 598-599.
>>>> 3. S. M. Downs, "Technical Report: Urinary Tract Infections in Febrile
>>>> Infants and
>>>> Young Children," The Urinary Tract Subcommittee of the American Academy
>>>> of Pediatrics
>>>> Committee on Quality Improvement, Pediatrics 103, no. 4 (April 1999):
>>>> e54.
>>>> 4. M. A. Gill and G. E. Schutze, "Citrobacter Urinary Tract Infections
>>>> in Children,"
>>>> Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal 18, no. 10 (October 1999):
>>>> 889-892.
>>>> 5. R. Kerwat, A. Shandall, and B. Stephenson, "Reduction of
>>>> Paraphimosis with Granulated
>>>> Sugar," British Journal of Urology 82, no. 5 (November 1998): 755.
>>>> 6. Rosemary Romberg, Circumcision: The Painful Dilemma (South Hadley,
>>>> Mass.: Bergan
>>>> & Garvey, 1985).
>>>> FOR MORE INFORMATION
>>>> Organizations
>>>> If your physician or healthcare provider ever recommends that your
>>>> child be circumcised,
>>>> get another opinion from a physician who understands the important
>>>> functions of the
>>>> foreskin, no matter how "urgent" the situation may be. For help finding
>>>> one in your
>>>> area, contact:
>>>> National Organization of Circumcision Information Resource Centers
>>>> (NOCIRC). PO Box
>>>> 2512, San Anselmo, CA 94979-2512.
>>>> 415-488-9883 . Fax: 415-488-9660.
>>>> www.nocirc.org/
>>>> Doctors are encouraged to contact and join:
>>>> Doctors Opposing Circumcision (DOC). 2442 NW Market Street #42,
>>>> Seattle, WA 98107.
>>>> 360-385-1882
>>>> . Fax: 360-385-1948. faculty.washington.edu/gcd/DOC/
>>>> Another resource especially for nurses:
>>>> Nurses for the Rights of the Child. 369 Montezuma #354, Santa Fe, NM
>>>> 87501.
>>>> 505-989-7377 .
>>>> www.cirp.org/nrc/
>>>> For information about alternative bris for Jewish parents:
>>>> Circumcision Resource Center. Ronald Goldman, PhD. PO Box 232, Boston,
>>>> MA 02133.
>>>> 617-523-0088 .
>>>> www.circumcision.org/
>>>> One of the best sources of information on the Internet:
>>>> The Circumcision Information and Resource Pages.
>>>> www.cirp.org/
>>>> Books
>>>> Denniston, G. C., F. M. Hodges, and M. F. Milos, eds. Male and Female
>>>> Circumcision:
>>>> Medical, Ethical, and Legal Issues in Pediatric Practice. Kluwer
>>>> Academic/Plenum
>>>> Press, 1999.
>>>> Goldman, Ronald. Circumcision: The Hidden Trauma. Vanguard, 1996.
>>>> Illingworth, Ronald S. The Normal Child: Some Problems of the Early
>>>> Years and Their
>>>> Treatment. Tenth edition. Churchill Livingstone, 1991.
>>>> O'Mara, Peggy, ed. Circumcision: The Rest of the Story. Mothering,
>>>> 1993.
>>>> Ritter, Thomas, and George C. Denniston. Say No to Circumcision! Second
>>>> edition.
>>>> Hourglass, 1996.
>>>> Books of special interest for Jewish parents: Goldman, Ronald.
>>>> Questioning Circumcision:
>>>> A Jewish Perspective. Vanguard, 1997.
>>>> Hoffman, Lawrence A. Covenant of Blood: Circumcision and Gender in
>>>> Rabbinic Judaism.
>>>> University of Chicago Press, 1996.
>>>> Weiner, Kayla. Jewish Women Speak Out: Expanding the Boundaries of
>>>> Psychology. Canopy
>>>> Press, 1995.
>>>> Important medical journal articles: DeVries, C. R., A. K. Miller, and
>>>> M. G. Packer.
>>>> "Reduction of Paraphimosis with Hyaluronidase." Urology 48 (1996):
>>>> 464-465.
>>>> Fleiss, P. M., F. M. Hodges, and R. S. Van Howe. "Immunological
>>>> Functions of the
>>>> Human Prepuce." Sexually Transmitted Infections 74 (1998): 364-367.
>>>> Jorgensen, E. T., and A. Svensson. "Problems with the Penis and Prepuce
>>>> in Children:
>>>> Lichen Sclerosus Should Be Treated with Coricosteroids to Reduce Need
>>>> for Surgery."
>>>> British Medical Journal 313 (September 14, 1996): 692.
>>>> Nolan, J. F., T. J. Stillwell, and J. P. Sands, Jr. "Acute Management
>>>> of the Zipper-Entrapped
>>>> Penis." Journal of Emergency Medicine 8 (1990): 305-307.
>>>> Shaw, Angus. "Africa to Address AIDS at Conference." Science (September
>>>> 10, 1999).
>>>> Van Howe, R. S. "Circumcision and HIV Infection: Review of the
>>>> Literature and Meta-analysis."
>>>> International Journal of STD & AIDS 10 (1999): 8-16.
>>>> Van Howe, R. S. "Does Circumcision Influence Sexually Transmitted
>>>> Diseases? A Literature
>>>> Review." British Journal of Urology International 83, Supplement 1
>>>> (1999 ): 52-62.
>>>>
>>>>
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