Newborn Circumcision - OB vs. Pediatric Urologist

Hi, everyone. I'm expecting a baby boy at the end of February. For some reason, I was under the impression that the pediatrician did the circumcision (I have an older daughter so this is all new to me) but today at my OBGYN appointment, when I asked them about it, they said that an OB actually does it. They also said that if you wanted to, you could take the baby to a pediatric urologist to do the procedure. They pointed out that none of the OB's in my practice actually do it in the hospital - they basically contract it out to another OB that is on-staff at the hospital I am delivering at. Not sure how a) I feel about an OB doing the procedure and b) an OB that I've never met before until she walks into the room to cut off my son's foreskin.

What are your thoughts? I'm sure that tons of people have an OB do it with absolutely no problem, but for some reason, its not sitting right with me. The plus is of course that if you have the OB do it, the baby comes home from the hospital with it done. If we chose to go with a pediatric urologist, we'd have to take the baby to the office to have it done within the first 2 weeks of birth. While researching it, I've gotten numerous recommendations for a pediatric urology practice in Lake Success (Dr. Reda and Dr. Gitlin's office). What would you do/what have you done?

Thanks!

Message edited 1/15/2020 9:24:04 PM.

Re: Newborn Circumcision - OB vs. Pediatric Urologist

I did it in the hospital, just because I knew we were going to be there for a few days and the nurses there would help me out with keeping it clean.

I’m just warning you, I felt guilty after I saw it when it was done. I’m not trying to discourage you from doing it!! I’m glad we did it, and it looked absolutely fine after about a week.

This is a very personal decision. It’s good that you’re doing your research. Just go with what makes you most comfortable.

Newborn Circumcision - OB vs. Pediatric Urologist

I have a girl but had she been a boy I would have had it done at the hospital. All of my friends have boys and they all had it done at the hospital as well.

I would actually guess that a staff OB at a hospital likely does more newborn circumcisions than a pediatric urologist does.

Newborn Circumcision - OB vs. Pediatric Urologist

We had it done at the hospital. I was also the crazy mom that wanted to send my husband but he really didn’t want to go and they didn’t want him there. The baby was gone about 15 minutes. Lots of snuggling when he came back.

Re: Newborn Circumcision - OB vs. Pediatric Urologist

All the boy moms I know had it done in the hospital by an OB. For my DS, the OB from my regular office did it.

Re: Newborn Circumcision - OB vs. Pediatric Urologist

I think the OB's that do it at the hospital would be a lot more experienced than the urologist to be honest- because they are doing it all the time.
Not many people go to the ped urogloist for a circumcision.
I'd also want it done as early as possible so having it done at the hospital would be my choice.

Re: Newborn Circumcision - OB vs. Pediatric Urologist

My boys had it done by my ob in the hospital. Its easier to just get it done right away. We had no issues

Newborn Circumcision - OB vs. Pediatric Urologist

You wouldn’t know the urologist either.

It’s a form of surgery and all OB’s are surgeons. I’m sure they are more than qualified and handle these procedures on an almost daily basis.

Re: Newborn Circumcision - OB vs. Pediatric Urologist

I would just have it done at the hospital. Even though you don’t know the OB, this is probably a routine procedure for them.

Re: Newborn Circumcision - OB vs. Pediatric Urologist

My son had a bris, but if he didn't, I'd have it done in the hospital. The whole thing literally takes 15 seconds. It's not nearly as bad as you think it is. There was a tiny bit of blood afterwards, but you couldn't even really tell after a day or 2.

Newborn Circumcision - OB vs. Pediatric Urologist

Both of my sons had it done by my OB at the hospital

Newborn Circumcision - OB vs. Pediatric Urologist

My first son had it done at the hospital by my OB. My second son was delivered by the on call dr and so someone from that practice did it for us. I honestly never even thought twice about it.

Re: Newborn Circumcision - OB vs. Pediatric Urologist

My DS had it done at the hospital. He was going to have it done, so it was easier to do it right there, than add something else to do later.

Newborn Circumcision - OB vs. Pediatric Urologist

The OB does it at the hospital. I waited and had a urologist do it for no other reason that we couldn’t decide if we wanted to do it at all. A Urologist will not do it once they leave the hospital until 6 months because they get put out. Looking back I wish we did it at the hospital. Putting my son under when he wasn’t a year old was not the best decision (for an elective surgery)

Newborn Circumcision - OB vs. Pediatric Urologist

We did it at the hospital as well. The OB did it and a hospital pediatrician was there.

Newborn Circumcision - OB vs. Pediatric Urologist

My ob did it, but she messed it up horribly, and it basically needs to be redone, but ds can choose to do it himself when he’s older.

Re: Newborn Circumcision - OB vs. Pediatric Urologist

Pediatricians are not surgeons. OBs are surgeons. They have lots of experience in this area. Nothing wrong with going to a urologist either except that it will likely be later on down the pike, instead of happening right after birth, and they may have to be sedated. Good luck! I was still loopy and out of it during my kids’ circumcisions and I’m so glad I was! It was over before I even knew it.

Message edited 1/17/2020 9:50:34 PM.

Newborn Circumcision - OB vs. Pediatric Urologist

Our pediatrician did it. When I asked my OB she said that the OB does it, but some pediatricians still do it, and ours was one of them (he's been in practice for a long time, he was my SILs ped who is in her 30's). I guess he's just old school? Anyway it was fine, healed perfectly, and was done in the hospital.

Re: Newborn Circumcision - OB vs. Pediatric Urologist

Baby circs are usually straightforward and really dependent on the tool used in a straightforward case, so anyone could do it.

A peds urologist is the person people go to so that they can fix an imperfect circ (which may not be entirely due to who did the circ).

We decided not to circ because we have no reason to do one.

BUT I think that any decision of who to do the circ isn’t bad.

If you are thinking who is most qualified... it’s def peds urology. But they don’t do the majority of straightforward circs. That’s the GYN.

Newborn Circumcision - OB vs. Pediatric Urologist

I have a 5 week old son and his was done in the hospital by my OB. I think I got lucky because my OB was on call the whole night after I delivered so once the pediatricians cleared my son (almost 24 hours after he was born), my OB did it before his shift was over. Granted if that did not happen, I would have still gotten it done at the hospital with an OB that was there. Actually had to follow up with a pediatric urologist (over a different issue), he checked the circumcision anyway and said it was a great job. So we are happy over here, no issues.

Re: Newborn Circumcision - OB vs. Pediatric Urologist

All our boys were circumcised at the hospital by the OB when they were a day or two old
I just talk to the dr. before they do it and ask that they take enough off because for my oldest son I think they didn’t.
The pediatric urologist can redo a circumcision that needs to be fixed but they wait till the baby is older and at that point they have to be put under anesthesia which I’d rather not do if not necessary.

Re: Newborn Circumcision - OB vs. Pediatric Urologist

It was done by the OB. Believe it or not, my first 2 sons were circumcised by a male OB and they were red and swollen for a few days. My last son had a newbie female OB and you couldn't even tell it was done!

Re: Newborn Circumcision - OB vs. Pediatric Urologist

An ob in my practice did it. Found out my son was getting discharged the following day from nicu and left a message for the on call ob. It was done in the hospital that night and he went home the next day.

Re: Newborn Circumcision - OB vs. Pediatric Urologist

OB did my son's in the hospital.

Re: Newborn Circumcision - OB vs. Pediatric Urologist

Dr. Gitlin is amazing. My daughter has chronic kidney disease and other kidney issues. Dr. Gitlin has done all of her procedures and surgeries. I love him. When I was pregnant with my son, we were talking about the possibility of him having the same kidney problems as my daughter and circumcision came up in the conversation. He asked who was doing it and he mentioned that he could do it. That was it for me. I wasn't going to let a stranger do it when I had a specialist that I've trusted for the past 3 years. He does it right in his office and it was super quick.