Baby Hygiene
<p><b>To circumcise your baby or not?</b></p><p><b>A decision for new parents</b></p>
<p>Many people have b and conflicting opinions about whether a newborn should be circumcised, and this may be a difficult decision for new parents.</p>
<p>Before you commit to a lifelong choice for your son, get all the information. Reasons for circumcision include:</p>
<p>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>Religious reasons.</p>
<p>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>Hygienic concerns.</p>
<p>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>Feeling that it benefits the child's health both in infancy and later in life.</p>
<p>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>Wanting their son to look like other men in the family.</p>
<p><b>What is circumcision?</b></p>
<p>Circumcision is the surgical removal of the foreskin that wraps around the head of the penis. It's the norm in many cultures.</p>
<p>Circumcision is usually done in the hospital (or at a religious ceremony at home) within 10 days of birth.</p>
<p>When done in the hospital, doctors usually give an injection of a local anaesthetic to block the pain and on the bright side, babies are super-fast healers. Usually, within an hour after the circumcision, babies act normally, and the area fully heals in about a week or two.</p>
<p>When male circumcision is performed on adolescents and young adults, it usually marks a transition from boyhood to manhood.</p>
<p>In many traditional ceremonies, circumcision is the rite of passage to manhood that every boy in the family will partake in. This is where they’re further educated about their responsibilities and duties as a new man of the community.</p>
<p><b>Benefits:</b></p>
<p>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>Easier hygiene.</p>
<p>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>Decreased risk of urinary tract infections.</p>
<p>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>Decreased risk of sexually transmitted infections.</p>
<p>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>Prevention of penile problems.</p>
<p>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>Decreased risk of penile cancer.</p>
<p><b>Risks:</b></p>
<p>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>More infections.</p>
<p>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>More transmitted diseases.</p>
<p>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>A rare cancer of the foreskin.</p>
<p>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>A common problem when the foreskin never opens (phimosis).</p>
<p>•<span style="white-space:pre;"> </span>When it gets pulled back too far and gets stuck (paraphimosis).</p>
<p><b>Care after circumcision</b></p>
<p>After your baby has been circumcised, you'll need to change the bandage with every diaper change in the first 48-72 hours with some sterile Vaseline to keep the bandage from sticking.</p>
<p>Don't be alarmed if your baby sleeps more than usual in the first day or two after a circumcision, that's a coping mechanism for him. After two days, the extra sleepiness is usually gone!</p>
<p>Monitor how much your baby is urinating, too, as he should urinate within 12 hours of the procedure. Look for increased redness, swelling, bleeding, or any drainage that doesn’t go away. If you notice any of these signs, call your doctor.</p>
<p><b>So, how do you decide?</b></p>
<p>Talk to your partner early about circumcision. There are many factors that you both may go back and forth about. You might worry about subjecting your baby to a surgical procedure, or later trauma or complications. Speak to your doctor about the best way to proceed with your family.</p>
