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Newborn Baby Boy Care: Circumcision, Undescended Testicles and Umbilical Cord

Are you thinking about whether you should have your newborn baby boy circumcised? Many people decide to have their sons circumcised because the father is circumcised. Others choose circumcision for religious or traditional reasons. Yet there are parents who do not have their newborn baby boy circumcised.

You should know that some doctor’s do not see circumcision as a necessary procedure for a newborn baby boy. Yet, research is showing that males who are circumcised are at less risk for developing urinary tract infections and some cancers. Reports are showing that there has been a marginal decline in the number of newborn baby boys who are circumcised. Nearly 80% of male babies were circumcised in the 1960s. Today only about 65% of newborn baby boy’s are circumcised. Circumcision is purely a personal decision.

If you do decide to have your newborn baby boy circumcised you should request that the doctor give your baby a local anesthetic for pain. If you wait until later to have your boy circumcised your son will have to go under a general anesthesia.

Once you bring your newborn baby boy home you will have to take special care of his circumcision. You should change your son’s diaper as soon as he soils it. This will keep his circumcision area from becoming soiled. To keep your son’s diaper from sticking to his circumcision area you should apply either petroleum jelly or an antibiotic ointment to it. You should not apply lotion, powders or oils to your baby’s circumcision area.

You should contact your baby’s pediatrician if you notice anything abnormal about his circumcision. This includes swelling, crusted sore, drainage, bleeding, black, blue or discolored penis, redness that lasts more than a couple of days, foul odor, dribbling or weak urine or if your baby develops a fever.

Another area of concern for newborn babies is their umbilical cord stumps. You should make sure that your baby’s diaper does not tug on the umbilical cord stumps. Many newborn diapers are cut in such a way that they do not come in contact with the umbilical cord stump. If your baby’s diapers do not have this special allowance, simply fold down the diaper. You should never pull or tug on the stump itself. It will fall off on its own. Some pediatricians recommend that alcohol be swabbed onto the stump during diaper changes. Some doctors simply recommend using warm water. You should talk with your baby’s pediatrician to see what he or she recommends for your baby. You should take your baby to the doctor if you notice any swelling, bulging, blood or pus around the naval. You should also take your baby to the doctor if the stump has not fallen off by the third week.

Another thing you should be educated about if you are having a newborn baby boy is undescended testicles. Most baby boys are born with their testicles descended. The small number of babies born with undescended testicles will usually require no medical attention. The problem usually corrects itself. However, if it does not your child will be given medication/hormones which will encourage the testicles to drop down into the scrotum. If medication/hormones do not induce the testicle to fall into place, your baby may have to undergo surgery. This surgery is usually done on an outpatient basis.

The chances are high that your newborn baby boy will have no complications or problems. You can take newborn childcare classes which will give you detailed information about caring for your newborn baby, including circumcision care. If your baby is born with an undescended testicle your baby’s pediatrician will give you literature to read. Having a newborn baby boy does not have to be a stressful or nervous thing. Educating yourself on circumcision and undescended testicles can alleviate a lot of your fears.