The Role of Pediatricians in Newborn Circumcision

When your little bundle of joy first arrives, you have several decisions to make regarding their health and well-being. When it comes to boys, one choice is circumcision. While Florida Pediatrics Group, serving West Melbourne, FL, and the nearby region, has Dr. Maged Farid, Dr. Ramagavri Rawal, Dr. Mihai Radu, and Dr. Enas Iskander can all perform circumcisions, we'd like to take a moment to explain the role pediatricians play in newborn circumcisions.

Helping You Decide

Your pediatrician will first help you with the decision aspect of a newborn circumcision. The healthcare provider will first educate you on what happens during the procedure and the pros and cons. You can then ask any questions you have about the process and aftercare.

Performing the Procedure

Once you decide, the physician will then perform the procedure. It usually only takes about 20 minutes and begins with our pediatrician applying a local anesthetic to the area. Your baby won't be able to feel the procedure after that.

Next, our pediatrician will remove the foreskin. 

The doctor will apply a petroleum jelly or antibiotic after the procedure.

Educating You to Prepare for Home Care

The last step of the process is educating you about how you can help your child heal optimally, reducing their risk of complications, like infection. 

For one, we'll let you know what to expect after your little one's newborn circumcision in West Melbourne, FL. For instance, the incision will usually heal in seven to 10 days. Your child's penis may feel sore. You may also notice it's swollen or bruised.

We'll tell you to apply an ointment to the incision to prevent infection.

And we'll stress the importance of changing the dressing with diaper changes.

Offering Help Outside Our Practice

After you return home, our pediatricians still play a vital role, intervening when necessary during the healing process. For instance, we'll tell you to contact us if any of the following occur:

• Excessive crying
• Baby is running a fever
• No urination after 12 hours following the procedure
• Bleeding that won't subside
• Foul-smelling drainage from the penis
• Changes after last more than three to five days

If you should happen to call us for any possible complication, we can educate you on ways to correct the problem, which may consist of bringing your child to us for a thorough evaluation or phoning in an antibiotic.

If you're expecting, we recommend you contact Florida Pediatrics Group, serving West Melbourne, FL, and the surrounding area, for a visit with Dr. Farid, Dr. Rawal, Dr. Radu, or Dr. Iskander to discuss if a newborn circumcision is right for your little one.  

Call 321-752-5210 today.