Decisions Before Baby Arrives - Caring For Your Newborn Baby

Circumcision is the act of cutting the foreskin of the penis, a fold of skin that protects the glans - which is the bell shaped head of the penis. Circumcision is usually done for religious, cultural, or hygienic purposes and is usually performed a few days after a child's birth.

Caring for such a condition can cause an undue amount of stress for parents. They naturally worry for the child's safety and fret over any discomfort the child may feel. Unfortunately, they are at a loss for how to deal with their newly circumcised child.

The act of circumcision exposes the glans to the environment. By nature, the glans is a smooth mucous membrane and is sensitive to touch. Upon circumcision, the glans gradually dries up making it tougher and scalier. This is what contributes to the normal appearance of a circumcised penis.

To take care of a circumcised penis, it would do well to do the following.

1. If the child was circumcised using what is known as the Plastibell device, you will notice the absence of any bandage; instead you will find a small plastic ring around the child's penis. If a Gomco Clamp was used instead, the wound on the penis will be protected by a gauze bandage. This bandage will also ensure that the child's wound or glans will not stick to his diapers.

It is recommended that you gently replace these dressings as they are soiled. Or alternately, you may carefully remove it after a few hours. Vaseline does well to protect the wound from sticking to surfaces such as the child's diaper. It also makes a good wound protector.

You do not have to worry too much about the yellow crusting around the child's wound. It will fall out by itself as the wound dries up and heals.

2. Avoid washing and touching the penis for a little more than a week. Doing so will help avoid infection and inflammation. However, you will still have to clean the area around the circumcised area to maintain hygiene and cleanliness.

3. Gently pull the shaft skin of the penis away from the glans at least once a day to prevent the raw tissue of the glans from inadvertently sticking to the shaft skin. Make sure, however, that you steer clear from touching or disturbing the wound itself. You may have to do this for about a year so that the tissues of the glans and the shaft do not fuse together.

4. Keep all implements that will come in contact with the child clean and sterile. Also, wash your hands before you handle the child, especially the child's wounds. Cleanliness and hygiene are the first and most important steps in keeping the child's wound free from infection and inflammation. An inflamed or infected circumcision wound is a very troublesome thing to deal with, and will make recovery for the child a protracted affair. In the end, prevention is better than cure.

5. Keep the child in a position that allows his penis space to heal. A circumcision will typically cause a penis to swell; it will be sensitive causing the child to be irritable. You should expect a lot of crying especially if the child is in a position that hurts. The child will need enough room to keep the swelling comfortable, dry and stable.

6. Observe the wound for infection, inflammation or any other irregularities. While swelling, or some inflammation, is normal, you should always be on the look out for irregular swelling and any infection of the afflicted area. Watch out for any oozing around the wound. If your child is running a fever, it would be best to consult your doctor immediately to stem any other complications that may arise.

7. Your baby will experience a lot of pain. While some doctors will prescribe post-operative medications, they will never be 100% effective and it would be better if left out of the regimen. A better option would be to nurse the child or to hold and soothe him. This will allay his anxiety and comfort him when he feels pain.

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