In April of 2002, my little one was born. He was absolutely perfect. We never doubted our decision even though we were unfamiliar with the look of the intact penis. I had several books and brochures about the topic and made sure David’s caregivers knew they were to just leave it alone and to never retract the foreskin. (Many don’t understand the function of the foreskin, and I’m often surprised to hear how many don’t know that the foreskin is fused to the glans at birth.)
When David was born, I didn’t breastfeed him, wear him in a sling, cloth diaper, cosleep, or participate in any other natural parenting practices. And his birth was vaginal but nowhere near natural. I didn’t know about all of those alternatives when I was pregnant. It wasn’t until I joined a local natural parenting group that I became more aware and began to educate myself about natural living. We made the choice to leave David intact simply because we felt it was his body and he had the right to be intact just as a baby girl would. We felt that baby boys were born with foreskins for a reason--and that there was absolutely no reason to amputate healthy tissue. I found that circumcision in the natural parenting group was rare while the circumcision rate (based on conversations I had) in the mainstream parenting group was closer to 50/50. Parents I spoke to who opted out did so because they either believed it simply wasn’t natural or necessary to alter a healthy baby or that it was clearly a human rights issue as in the case of female circumcision.
In 2003, I went from being a mom of an intact son to a mom on a mission. I had spoken with many moms about the topic who said they didn’t understand the procedure or felt they didn’t have a choice at the time. Several parents I spoke with felt regret and some vowed to never let it happen to subsequent children. I realized that this topic was rarely discussed openly and felt the need to help expectant parents get their hands on information, so I developed my “Circumcision Awareness Packet” and began sending them to moms who requested information online. I also attended a baby fair where I handed out brochures and spoke with moms and dads about circumcision and the care of the intact penis. Most people I spoke with were very happy to get the information. I know for a fact that my efforts have resulted in more than a dozen baby boys being left intact rather than cut at birth. This is encouraging and gives me the strength to keep speaking out for baby boys who can’t speak for themselves. I have spent several hours scouring the web for information, and I feel that my intactivism site serves as a great starting point for parents who would like to learn more about circumcision.
When a mother or father feels compelled to circumcise for religious reasons, I urge them to do more research because both Jewish and Christian groups exist in the anti-circumcision movement. There are very religious parents who have stood up for their children and have fought the pressure to circumcise. Keep in mind that many medical practices over the years have been abandoned based on new information. It is important to note female circumcision was also recommended around the beginning of the 20th Century; baby girls have been protected by law from circumcision since 1996.
I believe whole-heartedly that the United States will finally end this practice and that future generations will look back with shock and disbelief, unable to understand how a medically advanced nation such as ours could routinely perform surgery on healthy baby boys. The American Academy of Pediatrics does not recommend this surgery yet most major insurance companies still offer coverage. While some babies may be given a numbing cream, no babies are ever put under general anesthesia. It would be considered abuse to perform surgery on a dog or a cat without anesthesia, yet baby boys are operated on every day without pain relief during or after circumcision. Please see the recommended links for information about how circumcision can affect the your baby during the surgery as well as after. Circumcision can indeed affect your baby boy’s ability to nurse and bond in his first few weeks of life due to intense pain.
Mothers who are interested in living naturally are committed to providing the absolutely best and most natural start for their babies. For many, this includes natural childbirth, breastfeeding, and saying “no” to circumcision. Please let me know if you have questions or need more information. This is a controversial topic that I feel is worthy of discussion.
Update:
Check out the HIV Position Statement from DOC before believing circumcision will protect your child from HIV.
