Baby Boy coming soon....

[tribeofjudah]

Praise the Lord, our son will soon be here mid-July. We hope, pray, and dedicate our son to our Father God. We have chosen the name: Cyrus (God's annointed) Isaiah 45

Now, my question: to circumcise or not? I've done my homework, read many articles and medical journals, and gotten the opinions of doctors and pediatrician.

It seems, there is no medical reason or benefit for circumcision. Nevertheless, the wife and I am leaning towards circumcision.

Any thoughts out there? Advice? Concern? Your 2 cents?

[John317]

That's wonderful to hear. Praise the Lord, friend.

I have four children, including one son. I say go ahead with the circumcision. Your son will be glad you did and so will his wife. :-)

[Nan]

There are some medical advantages to circumcision, including a lower

rate of urinary infections.

Their father and I chose not to have our 3 sons circumcised. At least in this country, apart from Jews and Muslim boys, not many are circumcised. Which means the circumcised may find themselves the odd ones out in the locker room/change room or whatever as they are growing up.

Having worked in various places, I have done the procedure many times. And still did not choose it for my own, but I recognise it is an individual choice.

[John317]

In the US, at least until very recently, a majority of male babies were circumcised unless the parents decided otherwise. I think that is starting to change but it has resulted in most American men being circumcised. It is different in Mexico, I know that.

I have never known anyone who wished they hadn't been circumcised but I know there are a lot who wished they had been. It is better to be circumcised as a baby than have it done later in life. Circumcision is definitely beneficial for cleanliness.

[cricket]

We did our research too. Found that statistically speaking that at that time it was more of a 50/50 thing here in the U.S. Now, reports are coming in that it is more close to only 1/3 being circumcised in the U.S.

We chose not to have our son circumcised. We did not believe it was necessary for his good health, nor for religious reasons or even aesthetic reasons.

I, personally, did not feel it was my right as a parent to make that choice to permanently alter my son's body. For the same reason, we did not allow our daughter to have pierced ears as a child. Neither child is allowed to have piercings or tattoos until they are 18 and out of our home, making their own life decisions and have their own health insurance.

Ultimately, our doctor made the choice even easier for us--he is one who refuses to do the procedure. If we wanted to have it done, we would have had to see one of his associates.

[Stan]

some of my friends who had to have it done later in life, really wished they would have it done as a baby.

[John317]

My dad had it perfomed when he was about 18. Ouch!!

[tribeofjudah]

Speaking from experience, me and my brother had it done at around 12 or 13yrs. We were born in the province in the Philippines, home delivered by a midwife. No doctors, no hospitals for us.....no need or thought of circumcision.

When we got to the USA and starting to shower in public school, we were the "odd" ones. I would see others too who would NOT shower or just wear undies in the shower because they were embarrassed of being uncircumcised.

My mom heard our complaints and paid for the surgery by a family friend urologist.

YES....it was OOOWEEE time, but I'm glad we had it done.

[Liz]

This is a personal choice that needs to be made between you and your wife. Just like naming the baby.

Here is another point of view. If you live in the same house, no matter how careful you are, one day he is going to see you naked. Don't make him think there is something wrong because he is different from you. They will notice these things, but generally won't ask about them, they just stew in their self-doubts.

[cricket]

I agree with Liz that it is a choice that should be made between you and your wife--not just a choice to be made by the husband. But I disagree that a boy will necessarily think there is something wrong with him and stew in self-doubts. Obviously, you were not like that--you had the courage to speak with your parents about it, so probably, if you are open with your son, he will just ask and you can let him know the reasoning behind your choices. Also, remember that as John317 said, the "trend" is changing. It very well might be that the number other boys in the locker room who are uncircumcised will outnumber those who are by the time your son is of age to be in a locker room.

Anyway. I've said my two and an half cents worth.

[Liz]

Naturally every boy is different. But I have seen the problems that have arisen*, due to the sons being different from their fathers. In fact, for two generations.

*no pun intended.

[phkrause]

Praise the Lord, our son will soon be here mid-July. We hope, pray, and dedicate our son to our Father God. We have chosen the name: Cyrus (God's annointed) Isaiah 45

Now, my question: to circumcise or not? I've done my homework, read many articles and medical journals, and gotten the opinions of doctors and pediatrician.

It seems, there is no medical reason or benefit for circumcision. Nevertheless, the wife and I am leaning towards circumcision.

Any thoughts out there? Advice? Concern? Your 2 cents?

Congrats tribeofjudah. Yes I believe that you should circumcise. For many years prior to the last studies on it, they all said it was important. Now they say its not, and I'd say that given some more time they'll probably change there minds again. Anyway I've always felt that God not only gave his religious laws in conjunction with his health laws. There must have been a good reason that he had the Israelites do circumcision in conjunction with his covenant. Have always felt there had to be a health reason for that and not just some arbitrary reason to have a group of people do something that had no other benefit than to show approval for whatever reason.

[Nan]

There very well may be more reasons to circumcise if one lived in a sandy desert....

[phkrause]

There very well may be more reasons to circumcise if one lived in a sandy desert....

Good point. :)

[Gail]

There very well may be more reasons to circumcise if one lived in a sandy desert....

Our new grandson is not. In this area I don't think many babies are circumcised anymore.

[Jeannieb43]

In my experience, the baby boys who are not circumcised are being born primarily in the country. Those who are born in urban hospitals are being circumcised at approximately three days of age. The benefit is easier cleanliness, plus the advice in Genesis [or is it Exodus?] to the Children of Israel that "none of these diseases" will come to your people if you follow God's law of circumcision.

I've been married twice; one husband was circumcised and one was not. One became a urologist, and was skillful in performing the surgery on adults. Marital relations are no different for either type. But research has shown that cervical cancers are much more prevalent in partners of uncircumcised men.

[phkrause]

In my experience, the baby boys who are not circumcised are being born primarily in the country. Those who are born in urban hospitals are being circumcised at approximately three days of age. The benefit is easier cleanliness, plus the advice in Genesis [or is it Exodus?] to the Children of Israel that "none of these diseases" will come to your people if you follow God's law of circumcision.

I've been married twice; one husband was circumcised and one was not. One became a urologist, and was skillful in performing the surgery on adults. Marital relations are no different for either type. But research has shown that cervical cancers are much more prevalent in partners of uncircumcised men.

[tribeofjudah]

Great discussion.....thanks for all your input.

[Nan]

I think more recent research on cervical cancer shows the risk is more related to the number of sexual partners of the woman or of the woman's partner.....the arm of HPV, the virus which causes cervical cancer, is very long.

[olger]

Good point Nan.

[ClubV12]

phk says,

"...not just some arbitrary reason to have a group of people do something that had no other benefit than to show approval for whatever reason."

Desert or not, that has a ring of truth to it and is worthy of consideration.

[tribeofjudah]

Baby coming soon. Please pray for our success in having a healthy baby, smooth delivery, and for my wife to be painfree (yeah right)...

Due date July 22........I'm on pins and needles right now.

Father God, help us through this. It's our first one...!!!

[Gail]

Baby coming soon. Please pray for our success in having a healthy baby, smooth delivery, and for my wife to be painfree (yeah right)...

Due date July 22........I'm on pins and needles right now.

Father God, help us through this. It's our first one...!!!

Get ready to be blown away by the miracle!

[Jeannieb43]

Due date July 22........I'm on pins and needles right now.

The best insurance for your wife's successful delivery is choosing the right obstetrician ahead of time. An epidural administered at just the correct juncture can make the whole process nearly pain-free. But regardless -- the joy of seeing that sweet baby erases all memory of the pain required to get to that point. It's truly a miracle.

[tribeofjudah]

Here Here....!!! Baby arrived on July 16, 2011 @ 1154am...6 days early. He was 6lbs 8oz and 21 inches long.

Wow, it was labor on the Sabbath and I hope Father GOD approves of that labor on Sabbath. Healthy baby Cyrus James and momma are doing absolutely GREAT....!!!

PRAISE THE LORD.....ALL GLORY BE TO GOD....!!!