One of the first questions your pediatrician may ask after your son’s birth is whether you plan to have them circumcised. It’s a relatively common surgical procedure where your baby’s foreskin - the hood of skin that covers the head of their penis - is removed. If a baby is going to have the surgery, it’s usually done before they leave the hospital, 2 or 3 days after birth. If you’re considering it, here’s what you need to know.

 

The foreskin of the penis covers the glans, or head, of the penis. By cutting it off, the surgery exposes the end of the penis.

 

While most babies can be circumcised within 2 days after birth, you may need to wait if your baby is premature, born with a problem to their penis, or has bleeding problems or their family has a history of them.

​

Three different kinds of clamps or plastic rings are used for circumcision: the Gomco clamp, the Plastibell device, and the Mogen clamp. But the procedure is similar for all. The clamp or ring is attached to the penis and excess foreskin is clipped off. The ring stays on and will fall off later. An ointment like petroleum jelly is then applied to the penis and wrapped in gauze.

​

 

What to Expect Afterwards

​

​

After circumcision, your baby may be fussy and irritable. Hold him carefully to avoid pressure on the penis. The tip may be sore, and the penis itself may look red and swollen. You may see a yellow crust on the tip as well. This is normal and should go away on its own in a few days. It will take a week to 10 days for your son’s penis to heal completely.

 

It’s fine to wash their penis as it heals. You should change their bandage with each diaper change, applying a dab of petroleum jelly first so it doesn’t stick to their diaper. Around 48 hours after the procedure, the bandage is usually not put back on once it comes off. Lubricant, though, should still be used to keep the penis from sticking to the diaper. If stool gets on their penis, gently wipe it away with warm, soapy water. To ward off infection, change their diaper often and fasten it loosely.