What to do after the Bris

Originally published on www.mybris.com

General Care following the Circumcision

• Expect your son to be a little irritable for about a day.
• Most babies like to feed in a quiet environment following the circumcision. A baby who cries for more than a few minutes is usually suffering from air swallowed during the circumcision and needs to be burped.
• Most babies sleep quite well following the circumcision.
• Healing is promoted by keeping the area clean and dry. Warm water and a cotton ball or washcloth are preferred for cleaning the area around the penis. Avoid pre-moistened towelettes, alcohol, powders, and lotions, since these may cause irritation.
• Disposable diapers are strongly recommended for the first week as they tend to be less irritating and help keep the area dryer and cleaner.
• Baby your baby; it is better both before and for about three days following the circumcision to restrict the handling of your baby to just a few people. Also, avoid unnecessary travel–car seats can be irritating to the new circumcision and can delay or perturb healing.

Care following the Circumcision ~ the first 24 hours

• Keep your son snugly swaddled (especially his legs). The more he moves his legs the more discomfort he may experience.
• Wash your hands and squeeze vaseline ointment (about the size of a quarter) onto the center of a sterile 3×3 inch gauze square and set aside. Remove old diaper, clean any mess and replace new disposable diaper – do not fasten sides yet.
• Remove old 3×3 inch gauze square only if it is dirty (covered in feces) by gently peeling from bottom up. Expect to find some light blood stains with the first few changes. They should get progressively lighter with each change.
• Inspect the area of fresh blood, then drape the new 3×3 inch gauze square over the penis so that the mound of ointment is applied directly over the tip of the penis. Fasten the diaper.
• After 24 hours, no gauze is needed, just Vaseline ointment for 6 days.

If There is Active Bleeding 
You treat the bleeding on the penis the same as you would for the tip of a finger.

1. Apply pressure to the penis for 3 minutes; no less. Do this by grasping the penis between two or three fingers (over the 3×3 inch gauze square).

2. Without removing the gauze, inspect the area for continued bleeding and repeat the pressure for another 3 minutes.

3. If the bleeding slows down/stops, leave the gauze in place and close the diaper.

4. Re-check in one hour.

5. Call Dr. Rubtchinsky, (781) 576.9352 with any questions or concerns.

If the Bandaging Should Stick 
There will be a long gauze bandage (½ x 8 inches) wrapped around your son’s penis. This bandage should fall off within the first 24 hours (when it does, do not attempt to replace it). If after 48 hours the gauze bandage is still in place, it will have to be removed:

1. Apply Vaseline ointment liberally and completely over the stuck surface.

2. Allow 15 minutes to soften (with the diaper closed).

3. Gently peel away surfaces that are no longer stuck. Repeat process as necessary.

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