Male circumcision is something that has been going on for centuries and decades. Some people are still clueless about newborn circumcision; here are five common questions surfaced after newborn circumcision.
- How long should I wait until I can bathe him again?
Generally, you can clean your baby right after a procedure, but not in a bath of water.
You can easily clean your baby’s entire body leaving the penis part by using a sponge and try your best to avoid touching that part.
Don’t even get it wet. So wring your sponge well before putting it on your baby’s body.
Since babies have an amazing ability to heal themselves, and circumcision itself being a non-massive surgery, you can just wait for 48 hours until you can bathe your baby again.
Make sure to be very gentle during this time just to avoid possible pain if it so happens that your baby’s wee-wee is still sensitive after the procedure.
If within the 48 hours right after circumcision you find your baby’s penis has come in touch with baby poop, just gently and ever so lightly clean it with a wet soft piece of cloth.
As per the guidelines provided by UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital, it is advised to avoid giving a full-body bath to a child within the first day after surgery. However, sponge bathing is considered to be a safe alternative during this period. Once the second day has elapsed, you can proceed with bathing your baby or toddler as you normally would. In the case of newborns, it is recommended to wait until the umbilical cord has naturally fallen off, which usually takes place around two weeks after birth. It is crucial to be mindful of the water temperature and avoid using very warm water while bathing.
- How would I know if everything is normal with my baby?
When you choose to perform circumcision in your baby with a health care professional, most circumcisions will turn out fine.
However, since it is, after all, a surgical procedure, your baby will typically experience bouts of discomfort and pain right after surgery has been done.
It is normal to see your baby crying and having difficulties sleeping within the first 48 hours post-surgery. When you see that your baby is highly agitated you can administer a painkiller for him.
However, make sure you consult with a doctor first for the right amount of dosage that is suitable for a newborn baby.
Other than that, seeing blood in the diaper is also normal and should not be a source of concern.
The incision will show signs of healing itself within three days and the whole recovery can take up to three weeks.
- What should I notice when something has gone wrong?
Several unusual things typically occur after a newborn has gone through a circumcision.
For example, within the first couple of days after the procedure, you may see your baby boy crying a lot due to discomfort or pain.
His sleeping pattern may be changed as well due to this temporary stress. Another thing you may see is bleeding or yellow or green scabs on the penis, which are also quite common.
However, all the things mentioned are normal and should not be a source of concern.
You should be worried when you see that your baby’s penis is bleeding quite profusely and he experiences heavy fever.
When this happens quickly bring your baby to see a doctor to get immediate treatment.
You should also be worried when you see a major swelling on your baby’s penis or when there is an extreme redness. Quickly get treatment to avoid serious injury.
- What should I do when my baby keeps crying out of pain?
Circumcision is quite a big thing for newborn babies and they still do not have what it takes to handle the emotional turbulence that is caused by such an extra cosmetic procedure.
As a result, babies can cry a lot and find it hard to remain asleep during the first 48 hours right after a circumcision.
Although it may be heartbreaking to see your baby in this state, please understand that this occurrence is quite normal and will go away within a couple of days.
When your baby keeps crying out of pain or discomfort, you can simply administer a painkiller for him.
Since he is still a baby, it is recommended to get a doctor’s prescription or suggestion as to how much to give to a newborn.
If you fear your baby might experience pain right after circumcision, you had better get the right dosage before you witness him be in pain – just in case.
According to the About Kids Health website, if your child has excessive bleeding (small pools of blood or spots larger than a two-dollar coin on the diaper), it is crucial to immediately go to the nearest emergency department (ED). Prior to seeking medical help, you can try to slow down the bleeding by creating a ring around the top of the penis with your thumb and index finger, applying pressure for five minutes. In addition, it is important to visit the ED if your child experiences redness of the skin spreading to the abdomen and legs, fever, poor feeding and/or vomiting, yellow liquid draining from the incision, or difficulty with urinating (peeing) after circumcision, such as reduced diaper wetness compared to usual.
- Will circumcision really affect my baby’s sex life when he’s become an adult?
In recent years there have been a few worries in regards to a man’s ability to enjoy sex when he has been circumcised.
As such, many studies have been conducted to see if there really is a major difference in sensitivity between males who are circumcised and those who are not.
The results across multiple studies have rather consistently proven that there is really no significant difference.
Yes, there is a minute degree of difference in sensitivity, but it is so small that it will practically not affect a man’s ability to have ‘normal’ sex.
Although the studies have also suggested that there are a few health benefits to circumcision as well, in reality, the benefits themselves are not that significant.
As long as a boy or a man knows how to maintain hygiene, there’s no difference between circumcised and uncircumcised penises.
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- What should I do when my baby gets a fever after circumcision?
A circumcision is after all still a surgical procedure. Sometimes, the procedure hurts your baby more than you initially thought.
It is actually quite common to see a baby experience a fever shortly after having a circumcision done on his tiny penis.
However, this does not mean to say that it is okay and should be left untreated. After all, a fever shortly after surgery could indicate some kind of inflammation or infection.
Of course, you don’t want that kind of situation to be ignored and endanger the life of your little child. If you notice your baby battling with high fever shortly after the circumcision has taken place, immediately visit your doctor and get your baby checked.
The doctor will then make sure that the fever was not caused by any infection that could affect the ear and even lungs.
- Should I be worried if my baby has blood in his poop?
Circumcision is an external procedure that should only take away the skin on the tip of the penis.
Although it is a small surgery, it is still quite a considerable risk for such tiny human beings. As such, some things may go wrong shortly after the procedure has been done and your baby may experience many symptoms of discomfort.
Beyond crying and constantly having a fever, your baby may also bleed from his circumcised penis.
With that said, it can be quite common for some 3 to 5 days to see a spark of blood in your baby’s diaper.
However, if you see blood in the baby’s poop, that is another story. Bleeding that shows in the poo indicated internal bleeding and this may not have anything to do with the circumcision. Check with your doctor immediately to see the issue.
According to Texas Children’s Hospital, it is within the range of normalcy to see a few drops of blood in the diaper during the first three days following circumcision. If you observe active bleeding or an amount of blood that surpasses a teaspoon in the diaper, it is highly recommended to reach out to our urology team promptly for further guidance and assistance.
