NJ Brit - Dr. Eric L. Wasser, Cantor, Certified Mohel

Post Care Instructions

I will wrap two bandages around the penis at the time of the Brit. One bandage, a cotton-like material to stop any bleeding, and another one to keep the area clean. Generally, both bandages will fall off together. If they have not fallen off within 24-36 hours, please remove the outer bandage by carefully unwinding it. The outer bandage is made of gauze, which is saturated with Vaseline. So don't worry about pulling a scab. The second bandage may or may not come off with it. If not, soak a cotton ball with lukewarm tap water and squeeze it on the bandage, saturating it. You should be able to remove it by slowly pulling it off the incision. The second bandage is made of a material that will cause the blood to coagulate. As the baby urinates some of the coagulated blood will dissolve, and you might see a pink or red stain on the diaper or gauze pad. Don't worry!

After the bandages come off you will see several things:

Firstly, the penis will be very red. It is neither sore nor sensitive. It is red because until now it has not come into contact with light or air. This redness will disappear within a few weeks. You will also see a red swelling behind the glans. This is normal. The swelling will go down within a few weeks. You might also see a mucous discharge. This is lymphatic secretion which is akin to the beginning of a soft scab. It might vary in color from white, green, yellow, or gray. It will cover the head of the penis and very much resemble skin. In some cases the build up of this secretion on the shaft of the penis below the head might tend to look like a blister. It is not a blister! Do not attempt to remove this from the shaft of the penis. Since this secretion functions a soft scab, removing it might cause bleeding. Just leave it alone and it will eventually go away. To the untrained eye this secretion might look like pus. IT IS NOT PUS! It too will go away. The length of time will depend on the amount of secretion. All of these may be expected in varying degrees.

CARE: Until the bandages come off, place a Vaseline coated sterile gauze pad over the penis with every diaper change. After the bandages come off, begin to apply the antibiotic ointment directly to the incision gently with a fingertip and continue placing the Vaseline coated gauze pad over the penis forming a barrier between the penis and diaper. The antibiotic and the coated gauze pad may be discontinued after one week, or as soon as bathing begins. (You may begin bathing on the fourth day following the Brit, providing the umbilical chord has fallen off, and the area is dry). If you should happen to catch the baby urinating, and the flow is not strong (assuming this is not the end of the flow) please call me at once. If the baby is unusually fussy, (i.e., you cannot quiet him by feeding, burping, holding or changing) please call me.

I am on call 24 hours a day. If you think you see something that worries you, please do not hesitate to call me.

Enjoy!
Mazel Tov!
TRAINED AND CERTIFIED AT BIKUR CHOLIM HOSPITAL, JERUSALEM