Care After Circumcision
Circumcision is a simple procedure most often done in the nursery before a baby boy goes home from the hospital. There are a number of ways to do circumcision. Your health care provider will explain the procedure and tell you what to expect. To care for your son after circumcision, follow the tips below.
Expect the Following:A crust of blood or yellowish coating appears around the head of the penis. Do not clean off the crust excessively or it may bleed. The penis swells a little, or bleeds a little around the incision. The head of the penis is red or slightly black-and-blue. Your baby cries at first when he urinates, or is fussy for the first few days. The circumcision should heal in 1 to 2 weeks.
| Keep the Penis CleanGently wash your son’s penis with warm water during each diper change. Use a soft washcloth. Let the skin air-dry. Change diapers often to help prevent infection. Coat the head of the penis with petroleum jelly if the healthcare provider says to.
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For the Gomco or Mogan Clamp: | For the Plastibell Device: |
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When to Call Your Health Care Provider
The penis is very red or swells a lot.
In an infant under 3 months old, a rectal temperature of 100.4°F (38.0°C) or higher
In a child 3 to 36 months, a rectal temperature of 102°F (39.0°C) or higher
In a child of any age who has a temperature of 103°F (39.4°C) or higher
A fever that lasts more than 24-hours in a child under 2 years old, or for 3 days in a child 2 years or older
Your child has had a seizure caused by the fever
The discharge becomes heavy, is a greenish color, or lasts more than a week.
Bleeding cannot be stopped by applying gentle pressure.