Welcome, baby!
Please Note: I will only perform circumcisions up to the age of 3 weeks. For premature babies 37 weeks or younger, it is up to 3 weeks from their due date. Please plan accordingly.
To schedule a circumcision, Please CALL Geoff, my office manager, at 651-237-9703 to ensure that we can book an appointment as quickly as possible!
Congratulations on the (impending) birth of your son. There are a lot of decisions to make on behalf of your new baby. One is whether to circumcise him or not.
For many years, Americans saw circumcision as more hygienic, but this changed as we embraced a more natural way of birthing and child-rearing. At this point, the American Academy of Family Practice and the American Academy of Pediatrics take a neutral stance. There are benefits to circumcision, but there are also risks. At this point most parents who choose it do so for social, cultural, or religious reasons.
I perform circumcisions with the same sterility and medical skill as I would in a hospital setting, with over 30 years of experience. At the same time, circumcision in my office is done with gentleness, and parents are welcome to be with the baby during the procedure if they like. For pain control, I use a sugar water solution as form of anesthesia. Just prior to the procedure, I will inject a local nerve block of long- and short-acting anesthesia, which I require in order to perform a circumcision.
Circumcision only takes about 10-15 minutes. After the procedure you can feed and cuddle your baby while I review post-circumcision instructions. I will then check to make sure everything looks as it should and show you how to care for your son’s penis after the procedure.
If you choose not to give your son the vitamin K shot, please read this handout regarding vitamin K. We do require the Vitamin K drops if you choose not to do the shot.
I charge $400 for a newborn circumcision. Follow-up appointments are encouraged and are included in the cost. You can pay with cash or a check. We accept credit cards but apply a 2.5% fee to cover the credit card fees we are charged. The only exception to this is HSA cards which we accept without extra fees. I can provide a receipt that you can submit for reimbursement to your health insurance.
Please contact me as soon as your baby is born so that we can arrange an appointment in a timely manner. To make the appointment it’s best to call my office manager, Geoff Marshall at (651) 237-9703. Circumcisions can be booked if your baby is healthy and once he is feeding well, usually at least 5 days after birth. I will circumcise babies up to the age of 3 weeks (the risk of bleeding increases after that). Babies born prematurely can be circumcised up to 3 weeks after their due date.
If you have questions about your baby’s circumcision, please contact us by clicking here and include your baby’s date of birth, or due date.
Preparing for Circumcision
Parents have told me that they have found it helpful to discuss any concerns or anxiety about circumcision with each other and their friends. If you feel comfortable sharing these with me, I am also quite willing to talk to you.
Items You Need To Purchase in Advance:
- 2” x 2” NONWOVEN gauze pads, one or two boxes
- Aquaphor, Vaseline (petroleum jelly), or Unpetroleum Jelly (the latter is sold in health food stores and co-ops). A tube is easier to use than a jar. You won’t need this until after the procedure.
- Optional :
- Pediatric acetaminophen (Tylenol) (Concentration= 160 mg. per 5 ml). The dose is ¼ teaspoon (1.25 ml)
Before the circumcision:
Please dress your son in a two-piece outfit or one that can be rolled up around his waist (not one with a zipper from the top to the toe). A onesie is an alternative in warm weather.
Give him the acetaminophen about 1 hour before your appointment. The dose for a newborn (6-10 lbs.) is 1.25 ml, or ¼ tsp.