It has been interesting to follow the discussion about circumcision
and breastfeeding over the last few days. It is true that bris is done
at 8 days unless the baby's health contraindicates it. It is done
among family and friends and the baby is given to the mother to nurse
right afterwards. The wine is given to the baby just after the circ
is done not before. There is nothing to say that the baby can't have
anything before or that he can't have some kind of local anesthetic but the
wine that is part of the ritual is given after the circ. itself. IN my
experience the baby's usually recover very quickly and have not trouble nursing
afterwards. Although, my youngest son, now 5, did not have his bris until
he was 6 weeks old for health reasons. His nerve ending were
much better developed aty 6 weeks than at 8 days. he was much more
uncomfortable than my son who had had his bris at 8 days.
I ouwld imagine that doing a circ in the first couple of days could
cause problems that are avoided by waiting 8 days by which time
milk and breastfeding relationship are better established.
Naomi Bar-Yam