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Date: | Tue, 1 Mar 2011 22:23:35 +0000 |
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Thank you Wendy, I couldn't say this any better.
Patty Krumholtz-Belkin PNP IBCLC
Circumcision and breastfeeding
Date: Tue, 1 Mar 2011 19:13:03 +0200
From: Wendy Blumfield <[log in to unmask]>
Subject: Circumcision and breastfeeding
Before getting into a discussion about the negative effects of circumcision
on breastfeeding, we need a bit of cultural sensitivity here. Most parents
have a choice whether or not to circumcise their babies but for Jewish
parents it is a covenant. There is still a choice - some Jewish parents
refuse to do it, that is their right, but the majority, even the
non-observant, while continuing the practice, get expert guidance on how
this ritual can be done with the minimum of suffering.
So where I live, I do not warn my expectant parents about the negative
effects on breastfeeding but discuss with them how best to use breastfeeding
to comfort the baby.
The rabbis of 2,000+ years ago must have known quite a lot about physiology
because the circumcision is done at the earliest on the 8th day and later if
the baby is premature or unwell. As we all know now, the blood-clotting
mechanism is at its peak from the 8th day and when done by a qualified
"mohel" there should not be more than a drop or two of blood. Many "mohelim"
are using a spray or cream to numb the area and this is not against the
ritual laws. The amount of foreskin removed is far less than when done as a
surgical procedure. I agree with all the issues of informed consent and that
it is a problem that we do not get the baby`s permission and for that reason
some parents decide not to have the baby circumcised even if it results in
issues among the extended family.
But as the majority of Jewish parents do observe this ritual, it is more
effective to give positive reinforcement to the parents rather than add to
their anxieties. The advice we give to parents is to make sure that the
moment the procedure is finished, the mother can take the baby to a quiet
room and breastfeed. And anybody witnessing this can see for themselves
that within minutes the baby is taking great comfort from the breast and is
quiet and calm. For the few hours after the procedure, urinating may be
uncomfortable and mothers are advised to breastfeed the baby every time he
wakes (just as they would any other night). It is a distressing day for
all; as a mother of three sons and grandmother of 5 grandsons I was relieved
also to have daughters and granddaughters and not have to experience the
tension of that day. But it is also a joyous day, supported by one`s
family, the grandparents and close relatives. We are glad when it is safely
over. The mohel returns the next day to check and by that time the baby is
usually showing no distress and certainly no reluctance to breastfeed.
So sometimes we have to be careful about expressing negative values in a
multi-cultural society. It is more effective to find positive solutions to
make the experience easier for the baby and the mother. I don`t think that
any studies have shown psychological or sexual problems more prevalent in
the male Jewish community compared with a control group.
Wendy Blumfield
Israel Childbirth Education Centre
NCT UK Trained Prenatal Teacher/BFC
Thank you Wendy, I couldn't say this any better.
Patty Krumholtz-Belkin PNP IBCLC
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