Newborn circumcision is a surgical procedure in which the skin covering your baby’s penis (foreskin) is removed. This practice has many reasons; such as cultural and religious customs.

Circumcision Melbourne of newborns is generally safe and well-studied. However, there may be certain risks involved; therefore, it’s essential to discuss your decision with your doctor beforehand.

What happens during the procedure?

Circumcision is a surgical procedure that removes the skin covering your baby’s penis (foreskin). This usually takes place in the hospital within two to three days after delivery.

At the start of the procedure, your doctor will inject a local anesthetic at the base of your baby’s penis and use a scalpel to cut away any foreskin.

The surgeon will apply antibiotic ointment to the wound in order to stop bleeding and cover it with gauze. The surgery takes only minutes and is completely painless.

After your baby’s circumcision, you can expect some redness and swelling on his penis for seven to ten days. This is completely normal.

Avoid adhesions (abandoned skin) on your baby by washing his penis daily and changing his diapers frequently. Furthermore, coat the bandage that your doctor used with petroleum jelly to help it adhere better.

How the procedure is done

Circumcision is a surgical procedure that removes the hood of skin that covers your baby’s head (or glans). This may be done for cultural, religious or hygiene reasons.

Typically, newborn circumcision is performed in a hospital or clinic within the first 10 days of life. However, for certain religious ritual circumcisions the procedure can also be completed at home.

At the clinic, your baby will be placed on a special table with soft restraints for their arms and legs. Additionally, they will administer a shot at the base of their penis to numb it.

Once the procedure is finished, he will be covered with antibiotic ointment or petroleum jelly and wrapped in protective gauze to prevent the wound from rubbing against his diapers and causing irritation.

Most babies can be circumcised within two days of birth, however some may require a wait if they were premature, born with an issue to their penis, have bleeding issues or a family history of these conditions.

What to expect after the procedure

Following the procedure, your baby may experience mild fussiness and irritability. He or she may also have a sore, red tip of the penis which is normal and should go away within a few days.

Your doctor will apply ointment such as petroleum jelly to the area and wrap it in gauze to keep it soft and prevent it from sticking to your baby’s diaper during healing.

While your baby’s penis heals, you will need to change its diaper as often as needed. After each change, apply petroleum jelly and apply a fresh piece of loose gauze at the tip of their penis.

Your baby’s tip of his penis will begin to shed skin cells, and new ones will take their place – this is known as smegma. As your son grows older and is able to retract his foreskin, these old skin cells will be shed and replaced by fresh ones.

How to care for your baby’s penis

After the procedure, your doctor will give you specific instructions on how to care for your baby’s penis and diaper area. The most important thing you can do is clean this area after each diaper change and wipe away any stool that may accumulate.

Your baby should be checked every hour for the first 24 hours to look for any abnormal bleeding, which could be indicative of infection. If his diaper is dry and stuck to his circumcised penis, you should apply Vaseline to help protect against rashes or other irritation.

After 24 hours, you no longer need to use the bandage that was wrapped around your baby’s penis. Instead, simply apply generous amounts of Vaseline on both penis and diaper region at each diaper change for optimal moisture.