Pregnancy - September 2011

Exercise challenge for last week:
Tuesday: Walk, 15 min
Wednesday: Swim laps, 20 min, walking 10 minutes
Thursday: Cleaning, 120 min
Saturday: Cleaning, 60 min

I don't always count cleaning, but we've been doing the heavy-duty, pull everything out of the closet and clean up the major junk heaps, and so it really was a workout!

So I recently mentioned the fact that my fiance' and i are considering circumcision for our son (just to discuss the logistics of where is best to get it done, cost etc.) and OMG did i get some intense backlash! not only from youtube watchers but also from my friends back home in NZ. I was accused of not caring at all about my sons right to his own body parts, of being barbaric etc etc. I can honestly say i did not expect this, and to be quite frank it was abit upsetting to be accused of such things.
Our reasons for possibly circumcising are medical and its also the preference of my fiance', as he is also circumcised. I have done my research and understand the arguments for both sides, the main argument for the negative side seeming to be that it can cause some desensitization and is an unnecessary medical procedure. My brother even wrote me a message saying that he wish he hadnt been circumsised at birth. omg what to do now! any advice is welcome:ohwell:

I think it's a decision between you and your fiance. My husband and I had the same discussion. I don't really care too much either way, but my husband is adamant that our son be circumcised. Apparently his dad isn't (he was born in a rural area and it just wasn't done) and I guess he's had UTIs and a LOT of rashes. The AAP says it's even either way, as far as benefits; there is a statstically small decrease in infections and a very slight (probably statistically insignificant) increase in risks associated with surgery. So AAP and most doctors here consider it merely cosmetic. [There are a few instances when it is not advised, for example, my brother has hypospadias, where the opening isn't on the end, and it was better for him to be uncircumcised)

As far as barbaric, I was present for both my other boys' circumcision, and it's really no big deal if the dr knows what she's doing. I had a mole removed from "down there" and it was as traumatic for me as circumcision was for the boys, and the worst part of it all was the anesthetic. And if a boy later decides or has medical necessity for circumcision later in life its a LOT more traumatic, generally requiring more of a general anesthetic and longer recovery time.

As far as loss of sensation, I wonder how they tell. It's all subjective, and I know at least one circumcised guy who has never thought he was lacking any loss of sensation there! :embarassed: :laugh:

Would they react the way if you were getting a baby girl's ears pierced? Thats another cosmetic procedure done in a dr's office (for babies under 12 months), and it's making the decision for her and "not respecting her rights to her own body parts" and all that, but I wouldn't expect the major negative reaction for that in general that people give for circumcision.

Before my first son was born, I watched a video that showed both the "traditional" and the "metal bell" procedure, and researched them plus the plasti-bell (which is why I went with plasti-bell).
So, IMO, do what you and your fiance feel is best and tell everyone else to BUTT OUT!