Circumcision

WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW

Risks

IF YOU'RE HEADING FOR THE HOSPITAL...

Before You Go

• Your doctor will examine the child's penis to see whether it is all right to perform the circumcision at this time.
• Your doctor may not want your child to eat for a few hours before the circumcision.

What to Expect While You're There

• Taking Your Child's Vital Signs: These include your son's temperature, blood pressure, pulse (counting heartbeats), and respirations (counting breaths). A stethoscope (steth-uh-scope) is used to listen to his heart and lungs. His blood pressure is taken by wrapping a cuff around his arm. The procedure is painless.
• During the Circumcision...
  • The child will lie on a padded board and straps will be put around him to keep him from moving.
  • The doctor will clean the area around the head of the penis. He or she may give the baby numbing medicine so he will feel little pain.
  • The foreskin is removed after a special instrument or plastic ring is applied. Your child should have little bleeding. Ointment and a bandage will be put on the child's penis to help keep it from rubbing against a diaper.
  • The entire circumcision will take about 20 to 30 minutes.

After You Leave

• If the Plastibel® ring was used:
  • Gently clean the area with warm water 3 times a day or whenever necessary. You do not need to use soap.
  • After washing, apply the jelly or ointment suggested by your doctor to the area where the cut was made to keep it soft during healing. A black rim around the plastic ring is normal.
  • Do not pull the ring off; this could cause bleeding.
• If your baby has a gauze bandage: first wet it thoroughly with warm water and then gently remove it. After the bandage is off, clean the area as instructed above.

Call Your Doctor If...

• The ring does not fall off as quickly as your doctor said it would.
• The area where the cut was made is bleeding freely.
• The baby acts sick.

Seek Care Immediately If...

• The baby's urine comes out in dribbles or the urine stream is weak.
• The penis turns blue or black.
• The normal skin of the penis is tender or red.
• There is any pus on the penis.
• The baby develops a high temperature.