Non-circ'ing mamas - question

[kaimon]

2.5 and we haven't had any major problems. A couple minor issues though.

The foreskin once got swollen and infected looking. Dr prescribed a topical cream and a few days later it was fine.

If he stays in cloth diapers over night he gets burn-like rashes that have in the past resulted in a clear watery blister forming on the forsekin. But he gets irritated all over so I'm sure that would still happen if he was circ'd.

[jessicalev8]

Ds is 2 1/2 and no issues so far

[unfadingcolors]

DS is 2 1/2 and we have never had a single issue. He has had some minor diaper rash/irritation like every baby gets but you just care for it like a normal rash - frequent changing, herbal remedies, diaper creams, etc.

[crunch!910]

5 month old intact son and no problems here. I admit, I circed DS1 because I was nervous about how much harder it would be to care for an intact penis. My mommy instincts were screaming NOOO!!! Well, I should have listened to them, because my intact DS2 has been 500% easier to clean and take care of than my circumcised DS1. DS1 was bloody and raw. He screamed at diaper changes. He was in so much pain. DS2 came home intact and.. I noticed he was always smiles, never screams, during diaper changes. I remember chalking up the screaming to DS1 being cold - its something I had heard a lot... but that day when I saw my INTACT son smiling during a diaper change and happy to be naked... I knew.. I knew that my circumcised first son was in excruciating pain and that was the reason for his crying during diaper changes, not the "cold" like I was told. Its funny now.... to hear people I know circ their sons. Someone asked me once if my son screamed during diaper changes too. I looked at her and said "No. He's intact. He has no reason to be in pain." To which she replied her son just didn't like diaper changes because he was cold. Oh... the denial. Been there, done that. Now my first son is experiencing problems because his skin is too tight and during erections his penis is pulled to a curve. He had no major complications during or after his circ. These issues are just now occurring as he is growing in size, as is his penis, but he does not have the natural skin that would grow with him/retract. When I hear him whimper and tell me "mommy, peepee too tight", I am reduced to tears knowing the wrong choice I made for him is not only causing him pain right now as my young child, but will likely forever impede his future sex life.

Even if we ever experienced any problem, I'd be 10000% sure of my decision to leave DS2 intact because I know if he ever did have a slight infection that he'd be treated like a human being and be given appropriate pain medications, something that is not warranted to infants during RIC (routine infant circumcision). It is SO weird to me now to think that people are more protective over their adult son potentially ever experiencing pain that they will be able to understand and be cognitive of, but don't bat an eye at the extremely, excruciating torture a baby feels and is not able to make any sense of other than a near-death experience during RIC. All health issues aside, that's a reason for me to be against RIC.. but including health issues - all the supposed "benefits" have been debunked and the "benefits" do not outweigh the harm and risks inflicted onto non-consenting babies.

[lakemom]

Originally Posted by Kiliki How often have you had issues with your son's uncirc'd penis? What were they and how easy were they to fix? We might be having another little boy and we are trying to make the difficult choice to circ or not. Please don't start with the "his choice, his body" blah blah. And please don't use the word "mutilation" or "abuse". I understand people have some really big issues with Circ'ing. But please, please, PLEASE if you have an ax to grind, do it somewhere else. I've seen both the anti-circ and the pro-circ sites, I've watched the procedure done, I'm not looking for a debate. I am just looking for honest information from everyday parents who care for an uncirc'd penis. I know not to retract the foreskin and I know it only requires regular washing like any other body part. I am asking specifically about any other issues that uncirc'd penises regularly have... if there are any. Thank you so much.

My sons are 24, 18, and 11 and we have never had any problems with any penises ever. The occasional rash while still in diapers (but so did my girls) but that is all. I read about all the 'problems' uncirced males "can" have and just go Huh? Because my 68 year old Dad is uncirced too and he's never had any issues either (just in case you wondered...he told me so when we were making the decision with ds1).

[Kiliki]

Originally Posted by crunch!910 Even if we ever experienced any problem, I'd be 10000% sure of my decision to leave DS2 intact because I know if he ever did have a slight infection that he'd be treated like a human being and be given appropriate pain medications, something that is not warranted to infants during RIC (routine infant circumcision). It is SO weird to me now to think that people are more protective over their adult son potentially ever experiencing pain that they will be able to understand and be cognitive of, but don't bat an eye at the extremely, excruciating torture a baby feels and is not able to make any sense of other than a near-death experience during RIC. All health issues aside, that's a reason for me to be against RIC.. but including health issues - all the supposed "benefits" have been debunked and the "benefits" do not outweigh the harm and risks inflicted onto non-consenting babies.

my circ'd son had an injection of a numbing agent before he was circ'd. I am not saying it was not painful for him, and not saying I necessarily think RIC is a good idea. But what I am saying is that the idea that all children who are circ'd are put through the procedure with no pain meds is a fallacy.

[MDever]

DS just turned 9yo and has never had any issues in regards to being intact.

[unfadingcolors]

crunch - you said everything perfectly.

I want to add - be careful if/when you leave your ds with family or caregivers!! My mother in law insisted on telling me I needed to retract DS's foreskin to clean when he had some minor irritation and diaper rash.. she was blaming it on his penis not being clean. She circ'd DH so didn't know anything about it.
Just make sure you tell people to never retract because it can cause major issues if done severely or often.
Parents with un circ'd boys who don't know this and forcibly retract cause major problems - fusing/lesions, etc. and have to have their child circ'd later in life.

Care of an intact baby is painfully simple - leave it alone! Clean it with natural soap just like a finger. I've read on a major intactivist website that you shouldn't use soap during bath time but I disagree. We have always soaped DS's entire diaper area especially when he was wearing diapers. We use all natural Dr Bronners soap though.. I think the issue is conventional anti bacterial soap. Stay away from that. I think it would be bad to not use soap at all though - they're sitting in diapers all day..!

[kushie tushie]

DS is 2.5 and we've never had a single issue.

Amanda . Blaming my phone for typos and crap.

[songbird516]

Our little guy is 6 months and no issues so far.

Oh and I don't use soap much on him. We do EC so I just rinse with water most of the time.