I also tell them that it literally takes longer for me to put on my gloves
than to actually clip the thing!  And that I numb with that lidocaine gel
"like the dentist uses, that makes your lip feel big", so that they
understand that pain isn't an issue either.
Becky Saenz, MD, IBCLC, office frenulum-clipper

At 07:34 AM 07/12/2000 -0500, you wrote:
>I frequently see parents cringe when I mention this possibility.  I
>find it helps first to point out that the procedure is far less
>invasive than a circ and with far fewer potential problems.  If they
>have a boy that was circ'd (and had no apparant complications) that
>is often enough to allay their concerns.  It is also very helpful to
>point out to them how white the "web of tissue" is when baby opens
>his/her mouth wide and raises the tongue (to the extent the baby is
>able to do so).  When they see this I then point out that the reason
>it looks so white is that there is barely any circulation in that
>area and little or no innervation, they are usually much reassured.
>It helps to know where they are coming from.  Since there is some
>familial predisposition to it, they may know of a family member that
>had it done at some point beyond infancy when it can involve
>extensive plastic surgery.  They may also have mentioned it to or
>had it pointed out by a doc sho is not familiar with the simple
>procedure in a newborn and who may have said that if it turns out to
>be a problem, (s)he will refer then to an ENT specialist!  If I knew
>nothing about it that would certainly give me second and even third
>thoughts!  One of our docs who does clip them in the hospital does
>it in mom's room with mom holding baby on her lap.  I will mention
>this to parents also so they can see that it's not that big of a
>deal.
>Winnie
>
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