Care After Circumcision

What to expect

• A crust of bloody or yellowish coating may appear around the head of the penis. This is normal. Don't clean off the crust or it may bleed.

• The penis may swell a little or bleed a little around the incision.

• The head of the penis might be slightly red or black and blue.

• Your baby may cry at first when urinating, or be fussy for the first couple of days.

• Skin-to-skin cuddling and breastfeeding may help reduce pain.

• The skin should heal in about 7 to 10 days.

Keep the penis clean

• Gently wash the penis with warm water during diaper changes if there is stool on it.

• Use a soft washcloth. Don't rub the sore area. It may slow healing or cause bleeding.

• Let the skin air-dry.

• Change diapers often to help prevent infection.

• Coat the head of the penis with petroleum jelly and gauze if the doctor says to.

For the Gomco or Mogen clamp

• If there is gauze or a bandage on the penis, follow the doctor's specific instructions on when to remove it, replace it, or both.

For the Plastibell device

• Let the ring fall off by itself. This may take between 3 to 10 days .

• Call your baby's doctor if the ring falls off in the first 2 days or stays on for more than 10 days .

When to contact the doctor

Contact your baby's doctor if:

• Your baby's penis is very red or swells a lot.

• Your child has a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or as advised by the doctor.

• Your child is acting very ill, listless, fussy, or refuses to eat.

• There is discharge or drainage that looks cloudy or does not go away.

• Bleeding can't be stopped by applying gentle pressure or is larger than a quarter-size on the diaper.

• Your baby is not urinating normally.