Dear Lactnet friends,

Ever since this thread about circumcision started I've felt more and more
uncomfortable. I do know that in some religions, like muslims and jews,
circumcision is seen as a religious command. I can accept that. What worries me
is the, as it appears widespread, practice of non-religious circumcision in some
parts of industrialised world. What reason do parents give to have this done
with their little sons? Why do doctors circumsice? is there any medical or
sanitairy reason to amputade such a precious part of a child's body? I do not
want to criticise, I just want to understand. I read so much about painkilling,
so it really must hurt; there has been talking about breastrefusal as a result
of it, so it must be really traumatising.
Can someone inform me (and perhaps others will be interested as well) how
widespread it is, in what countries/social groups/etc and above all for what
reasons parents choose to have a cirsumcision done to their sons and the reasons
why doctors perform -in my view- operations that are not medically needed? I'm
really worried and upset by this.

Sincerely,

Gonneke van Veldhuizen, IBCLC, Maaseik, Belgium
http://www.users.skynet.be/eurolac
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