CARING FOR THE CIRCUMCISION AT HOME

 

 

Care

 

·    At each diaper change, squeeze warm water from a washcloth over the tip of the penis.  Wipe everywhere else with a cloth or a diaper wipe.  If there is poop on the tip of the penis, wipe it off with a diaper wipe or cloth.  After 72 hours (three days), you can bathe and wipe normally.

·    Use petroleum jelly (Vaseline) at every diaper change. For the first 72 hours put the petroleum jelly directly in the diaper and on to the testicles.  After 72 hours, just coat the tip of the penis instead.  Point the penis down and fasten the diaper tightly.

·    Give your baby acetaminophen regularly every 6 hours for the first 24 hours. Ensure the dosage on the bottle of acetaminophen reads 80 mg/ml.  Give acetaminophen as needed on the second and third day. 

·    Air drying is not required.  Air drying can slow healing.  Wounds are better kept moist.

·    Avoid baths for 3 days.

 

Bandage

 

·      A medicated bandage called Surgicel has been place around the cut mark on the penis.  This medication prevents bleeding.  Don’t remove this bandage.  It will fall off when it is ready (sometime between 1 hours and 3 days).  When it falls off, there should not be any dripping blood.  If there is dripping blood, you will hold him against your chest and follow the instructions for bleeding.

·      It is normal for the bandage to turn black with the blood touches it.

·      If poop gets on the bandage, you can wipe it off gently with a wipe.  Don’t worry if the bandage turns a little yellow when the poop touches it.

·      If you see the bandage covering the hole where the urine (pee) comes

    out, just move it out of the way.

·      If the bandage has not fallen off by 72 hours after the procedure, please soak your baby in a warm bath of water and gently peel off the bandage.  If it does not come off easily, you can try again in 24 hours.

 

 Bleeding

 

·      Check in the diaper every 3-4 hours for the first 24 hours.  It is normal to see a little bit of blood in the diaper.  It is also normal to see a blood clot on the tip of the penis. 

·      There should not be blood dripping from the penis.  If you see dripping blood, put the diaper back on, and hold your baby tight against your chest for 15 minutes.  After 15 minutes of applying pressure, If the dripping restarts at any time, or if ever the diaper is heavy with bright red blood, go directly to the hospital or urgent care centre. 

 

Normal healing

 

·      The shaft of the penis will be bruised and swollen.  The tip of the penis will be red and sore.  You will notice a white sticky substance (wet scab) and yellow wet discharge around the cut mark and over the head of the penis. You may see a blister at the bottom of the penis where the injection was given.  The penis will look its worst at 24 hours.  It will then stay the same for a few days, and then slowly improve.

 

Seek medical attention if

 

·      There is worsening after 24 hours with more pain, redness, swelling, or thick and smelly discharge.

·      You are worried about the amount of bleeding.

·      Your baby has not wet his diaper for 12 hours after the circumcision.

·      Your baby develops a fever (temperature 38.0 degrees Celsius or higher), or your baby seems to be sick.