post-care
If you have any questions about your son's circumcision, call me any time night or day.
Day 1-3 following circumcision
Keep your son snugly swaddled (especially his legs). The more he moves his legs the more discomfort he may experience. Change his diaper with each bowel movement or if it has been 4 hours since the last change.
With each diaper change:
During these 3 days no bath should be given. A sponge bath is acceptable but that area should remain dry. If he gets actual feces on his penis then gently wipe the testicles with a gauze or soft cloth and warm water. Do not wipe the shaft of the penis. Rather gently dab. After three full days give your son a bath or sponge bath depending on the status of his belly button.
Note: Expect the first couple of 3x3 gauze squares to be stained red with blood. This is normal and represents only a drop or two of dried blood mixed with urine. If in fact there was bleeding, the penis would be enveloped with small globs of blood (but this is very rare).
Other Bandaging
There may be a 1/2 inch gauze wrapped around your son's penis. This bandage should fall off, on its own, during the first 24 hours. If it is still in place after 48 hours it will have to be removed. Bathe your son in a lukewarm bath for about 10 minutes. This should be sufficient to loosen the gauze so it can be un-wrapped.
Infection is very rare.
Common of signs of an infected circumcision include: a pus-like discharge from the wound, a foul smell from the groin area, excessive swelling or redness in the groin area, or a fever. With any of these signs, call me or the child's physician without delay. Bleeding is rare but is the most frequent complication of circumcision. Aside from direct complications, the most common concern of parents is related to aesthetics. It should be remembered that penises come in all shapes & sizes. While most penises 'look normal' within days of the circumcision, some do not take on a completely normal appearance until after the penis starts to grow (age 3 to 5 years). On occasion, a poor aesthetic result occurs when too little or too much skin is removed, or when the cut edge of the skin attaches too high or too low along the length of the penis. In nearly all cases the penis will heal properly and in time take on a normal appearance. Even though complications are rare, do not hesitate to consult me or the child's physician if you have any questions about the appearance of the penis or surrounding area.
If you see actual blood flowing from the wound area do the following:
Healing is Rapid
A circumcision is like any other cut and every child heals differently - though most heal rapidly. For most babies, the penis should no longer be tender in a day, be essentially healed in a week, and take on a 'normal appearance' in about a month: The cut edge seals and bleeding ceases within minutes. Within hours, maybe a day, the area just behind the glans (especially the underside) will become swollen. This inflammation will subside within a week or two. In a day or two there are usually off-white or yellowish patches on the glans. These patches are a type of scab and are associated with normal healing. You will also notice that the glans is red and glossy. This is because the skin covering the glans of an uncircumcised penis is mucous membrane (like the skin on the inside of your cheek). Once exposed, the mucous membrane will transform and in time take on a normal appearance (like the skin on the outside of your cheek).
- Immediately after the Bris feed and burp your son as usual.
- Expect your son to be a little irritable the first day. You can give him infant acetaminophen as needed to help alleviate some discomfort. The dosage is 1.25 ml
- It has been shown that disposable diapers better help promote healing by keeping the area clean and dry. It is strongly recommended that you use newborn size disposable diapers for the first week.
Day 1-3 following circumcision
Keep your son snugly swaddled (especially his legs). The more he moves his legs the more discomfort he may experience. Change his diaper with each bowel movement or if it has been 4 hours since the last change.
With each diaper change:
- Wash your hands thoroughly.
- Squeeze a mound of Bacitracin ointment (the size of a quarter) onto the center of sterile 3x3 inch cotton gauze square.
- Remove old diaper, clean any mess (except around penis).
- Remove old 3x3 gauze square by gently pulling up and out on each of its four corners.
- Apply the new 3x3 gauze with the mound of Bacitracin ointment placed directly over the head of the penis. Gently squeeze to spread out the ointment.
- Close diaper (and relax).
During these 3 days no bath should be given. A sponge bath is acceptable but that area should remain dry. If he gets actual feces on his penis then gently wipe the testicles with a gauze or soft cloth and warm water. Do not wipe the shaft of the penis. Rather gently dab. After three full days give your son a bath or sponge bath depending on the status of his belly button.
Note: Expect the first couple of 3x3 gauze squares to be stained red with blood. This is normal and represents only a drop or two of dried blood mixed with urine. If in fact there was bleeding, the penis would be enveloped with small globs of blood (but this is very rare).
Other Bandaging
There may be a 1/2 inch gauze wrapped around your son's penis. This bandage should fall off, on its own, during the first 24 hours. If it is still in place after 48 hours it will have to be removed. Bathe your son in a lukewarm bath for about 10 minutes. This should be sufficient to loosen the gauze so it can be un-wrapped.
Infection is very rare.
Common of signs of an infected circumcision include: a pus-like discharge from the wound, a foul smell from the groin area, excessive swelling or redness in the groin area, or a fever. With any of these signs, call me or the child's physician without delay. Bleeding is rare but is the most frequent complication of circumcision. Aside from direct complications, the most common concern of parents is related to aesthetics. It should be remembered that penises come in all shapes & sizes. While most penises 'look normal' within days of the circumcision, some do not take on a completely normal appearance until after the penis starts to grow (age 3 to 5 years). On occasion, a poor aesthetic result occurs when too little or too much skin is removed, or when the cut edge of the skin attaches too high or too low along the length of the penis. In nearly all cases the penis will heal properly and in time take on a normal appearance. Even though complications are rare, do not hesitate to consult me or the child's physician if you have any questions about the appearance of the penis or surrounding area.
If you see actual blood flowing from the wound area do the following:
- Call me immediately.
- Apply steady pressure for 10 minutes by grabbing the penis with a gauze between your thumb, index finger, and middle finger. If you let up before 10 minutes, reapply pressure and start the 10 minute count over.
- Inspect the area for 2 minutes. If bleeding persists, repeat step one.
Healing is Rapid
A circumcision is like any other cut and every child heals differently - though most heal rapidly. For most babies, the penis should no longer be tender in a day, be essentially healed in a week, and take on a 'normal appearance' in about a month: The cut edge seals and bleeding ceases within minutes. Within hours, maybe a day, the area just behind the glans (especially the underside) will become swollen. This inflammation will subside within a week or two. In a day or two there are usually off-white or yellowish patches on the glans. These patches are a type of scab and are associated with normal healing. You will also notice that the glans is red and glossy. This is because the skin covering the glans of an uncircumcised penis is mucous membrane (like the skin on the inside of your cheek). Once exposed, the mucous membrane will transform and in time take on a normal appearance (like the skin on the outside of your cheek).