What you should know

Boys are born with a piece of skin covering the tip of the penis, called a foreskin.  A circumcision is the removal of this foreskin. Your child must be healthy and stable to be circumcised.

Risks

Circumcision may result in cause bleeding, an infection or other injury to your child`s penis. A circumcision is usually a very safe procedure. Follow the directions of your caregiver and your child will not be likely to have any problems.

Getting Ready

1. Your child`s caregiver may not want the baby to nurse or take formula for a few hours prior to the procedure, This is to prevent the baby from choking during the procedure.
2. Your baby will be assessed prior to the procedure to determine if he is a good candidate for a circumcision.
3. You will be asked to sign a consent form if you have not done so already, be sure to ask any questions you may have prior to signing this legal document, as it gives your caregiver permission to perform the procedure.

What will Happen

• Your baby will be placed on a padded board with straps, His arms and legs will be restrained to prevent him from moving during the procedure, Your baby will receive numbing or pain medication prior to the circumcision.
• A special clamp or plastic ring is applied to the penis and the foreskin is removed.
• If a clamp is used, petroleum jelly and gauze will be applied to the penis after the procedure.
• If a plastic ring is used, petroleum jelly should not be applied to the penis! This could cause the plastic ring to come off too soon.
• The nurse will observe the baby for any abnormal bleeding, The baby will b returned to you as soon as the nurse determines the baby is stable.

Circumcision Care

Plastibel - plastic ring: clean the penis with water each diaper change, The ring should fall off in 5-8 days, If it does not fall off, notify your caregiver, DO NOT PULL THE RING OFF YOURSELF, Healing takes about 10 days.

Clamp - If a clamp was used for the circumcision, your baby will be returned with petroleum on a gauze, gently clean the penis with mild soap and water each diaper change, Do not scrub the area, Re-apply the petroleum and gauze that has been provided until finished, The petroleum gauze prevents the diaper from rubbing and sticking to the penis.The penis may appear raw and tender initially, and ooze a small amount of blood, This is part of the normal healing process.

Seek Care Immediately

• The circumcised area continues to bleed or you think the bleeding is excessive.
• Your child has not urinated in 6-8 hours after the circumcision.
• The urine stream comes out in dribbles or the stream is weak.
• The penis appears blue or black, above the circumcision site.
• You think the baby has a temperature or the temperature is 99.8 F or greater under the arm.