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How do we choose a Mohel?
I always tell my trainee Mohelim that patience and support of the baby's parents are as important as the circumcision itself.
The Brit Milah ritual usually takes place on the eighth day after the baby's birth. The hospital physician confirms whether circumcision can indeed be performed, and informs the mother of hi or her decision upon her discharge from the hospital. If, for some reason, a delay is required, the mother is duly informed upon discharge.
Nowadays, a local anesthesia can be applied both during and after circumcision, using a special ointment and sprays (also homeopathic), and thus an injection is mostly unnecessary.
In fact, the injection hurts more than the small, precise cut, and some babies are even allergic to the anesthetic. Injecting the anesthetic into the vein may sometimes deform the member's shape, thus making symmetrical cutting difficult. In any case, the anesthetic wears off after a short while. The latest "gimmick" is a painful intravenous anesthesia, intentionally applied away from the crowd and the camera, so that no one can see the baby deforming. During circumcision, all are pleasantly surprised to see the baby not crying...
The circumcision pain adds to the injection pain, and intensifies after the anesthetic wears off.
Indeed, it is natural to be a little apprehensive, but it has been proven that abnormal occurrences during circumcision are much less frequent than during either urological or plastic surgery.
A skilled Mohel performs his job well, since his accumulative experience has made him an expert. Furthermore, he remains at your service even after the circumcision, should any problem arive.
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Big Deal
Guy Peres, Hemmi Peres' son and the Foreign Minister's grandson, was circumcised yesterday in a small family occasion. The excited grandfather found a few hours vacant of foreign affairs, and took part in the ceremony (written and photographed by Miki Cratzman).
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Preparation and Tips
What should we bring to the Brit Milah ceremony?
The Mohel will give you a list of products to bring along (diapers, pacifier, etc.) It is worth noting that the Brit Milah ritual has numerous honorees. Besides the Sandak, which is the highest honor, there are other relatives and guests you might want to honor.
I must point out that arguments over honors (who would be the Sandak) or over the baby's name should be avoided.
What happens after the Brit Milah?
I examine the baby again, and then instruct the parents as to required aftercare. From my experience, the parents are usually too excited to fully concentrate on my instructions, and it is therefore recommended to ask an additional relative to listen to the instructions.
I also personally provide parents with written instructions, which they can read after they return home.
It is important to realize that only a doctor has the proper authority to determine a sick baby’s state of health.
Nevertheless, the parents should not base their decision of the brit based only on the doctor’s assessment, being that the doctor may not always take the halachic aspect into consideration.
There are many situation in which the halacha coincides with the medical perspective.
Question:
Could you explain what effect neo-natal jaundice has on the delay of the brit?
Answer:
It is first crucial to understand that an important distinction must be made between pathologic hepatitis - a result of an inflammation of the live, and neo-natal jaundice – not a disease, but a normal phenomenon occurring in infants caused by an immature liver. Neo-natal jaundice is very common.
Usually the brit is only delayed a dew days, until the bilirubin level drops to the desired level.
Question:
How must parents take care of the baby in the first days after the brit?
Answer:
The most important rule and responsibility parents must observe when caring for a baby after the brit is hygiene and sterility.
Today’s heightened medical awareness has proven that the quick est way to recovery is through maintaining cleanliness and sterility.
Anyone involved in the medical field knows that the first step required is protecting the patient from infection.
This too must be adhered to strictly by the mohel and the parents, when is comes to helping the baby recover.
Caring for the baby with scrupulous hygiene will ensure that the baby will recover within a short time.
All creams and lotions are basically superfluous.
They are not recommended for use, because they may cause side effects, and there are babies who are especially sensitive to certain
solutions.
However, sterilizing with a polydin solution is recommended, and is an efficient way of cleansing.
Sometimes the mohel will recommend a cream, which he finds has proven to promote healing
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