Raquel, how long did it take for Mal to heal? There wasn't much blood or anything this morning, and Ish's umbilical stump healed pretty quickly but I'm just wondering how long it will take for him to heal since he'll be, ya know, wetting on the wound.

Crumbs.

You all do this, don't you? The circumcision thing?

Huh.

I seem to recall the boys circs took way less time to heal than their belly buttons did. Maybe a week, Beej. The urine doesn't seem to bother it. I'd think it would too, but it doesn't. I slathered them in Vaseline though, every time I changed them, and it provides a pretty effective barrier, I think.

I'm pretty sure that a medical circumcision heals a bit differently than one done by a moyel, since the procedure itself is a bit different, usually.

What Cindy said. They gave us a little antibiotic ointment for once a day, and vaseline-covered gauze to keep the raw skin from sticking to other skin or diaper, and said to do that for a week. He was fine, it healed much faster than the cord stump, and didn't seem to cause him any discomfort.

Hey Fay...yep, we do. Some of us. I think about 50% of (non-Jewish) Americans do it. I left the decision to Mal's father, not feeling equipped to make that call.

You all do this, don't you? The circumcision thing?

Not everyone. But lots.

Hil, by different, do you mean surgical circs heal more quickly or slowly? There are different techniques among surgeons, as well. I used to know what they were, but those brain cells are gone.

You all do this, don't you? The circumcision thing?

Some people do apart from religious reasons. On the other hand, my husband's uncle accused all the next generation of of mutilating our sons' sex. Some research indicates female partners of circumcised males have lower rates of cervical cancer. Some research indicates circumcised males have lower rates of HIV infection. I was for it, because my own uncle had a medical need to have it done when he was in his 40s or so, and it seemed better to take care of it in infancy.

Hil, by different, do you mean surgical circs heal more quickly or slowly? There are different techniques among surgeons, as well.

I'm not entirely sure. I think I've heard that the medical ones heal more slowly, because of the clamps used or something, but this is all just vague "I think I heard it somewhere."

My midwife ( not doula, which is the Greek word for maid or slave), who as a Greek was opposed to the procedure, said her son had to have it done for some reason when he was 2, and it was horribly painful and traumatic, especially wrt urination, which he tried to not do. So that helped convince me.

Mal started repeating my sounds tonight! It may be a fluke of course, but still - spooky!

I have no real thoughts to contribute on circumcision.

However, as part of my Photo Album For Bro's Wedding project, I have yet another picture to share (Arrested Development fans, take note): Steve Holt!