By Mandi Woolery © 2011
Read more from Woolery at: Peachy Keen Birth Services
So, I took my newborn in for a nose-job…
and his pediatrician flipped out on me. Can you freaking believe it?!
I told her that his nose looked different than my husband’s, and I’d like them to look the same. This should avoid any awkward questions when he’s older. The doc looked at me like I was insane and told me that was no reason to perform elective surgery on a neonate.
I told her that the girls would probably like him better when he started dating if he had a nose-job. Again, baffled, the doctor told me that she could not, and would not, perform cosmetic surgery on a newborn for such a ridiculous reason.
I told the doc that I had heard a rumor that my son would be less likely to get rhinitis later in life if we removed a little of his schnozola. Starting to show a little concern for my parenting, she told me that there was no conclusive evidence to support elective surgery as a means of effectively preventing complications or infection in adulthood.
Starting to get impatient, I told her that I just wanted to get this over with. After all, my son would probably decide later in life that he’d like a designer nose, so it was better to just have it done now while he was too little to remember, and probably couldn’t feel it anyway. Looking at me like I was bonkers, she asked me what made me think that this perfectly formed little person wasn’t capable of feeling pain. Hadn’t he shrieked when he had a tiny pin-prick to draw blood from his heel? Of course he could feel pain!
I told her that I thought it would be easier for him to keep his nose clean if we just took a tiny bit off. I could see the doc making a mental note to call child protective services on my crazy ass, but she humored me and explained that it’s very easy to teach a child how to properly clean his nose.
I told her that I was afraid that years later all of his friends at school might have a certain kind of nose, and that he would be ridiculed for his. The doctor told me that everyone’s nose is different, and that she would not be performing elective surgery on a newborn for such an asinine reason.
I told her that I heard that lots of people were having their newborns’ noses done. She didn’t even have an answer for this one… she was just so shocked that her jaw hung open!
I told her that this was my baby, and I wanted this nose-job done today! After all, how risky could it be? The doc told me that performing surgery on a newborn is always risky, and should only be done when absolutely necessary for the well-being of the baby. END OF DISCUSSION. No nose-job would be happening for my baby today.
Disappointed, I began to leave. But then I remembered the other reason I had brought my baby in to the pediatrician’s office that day.
“When can we have him circumcised?” I asked.
“We can fit him in today if you’d like!” replied the doc. “Although your insurance doesn’t cover it any longer, so you’ll have to pay the full $500 up front. Is that okay?”
“Sure!” I replied, as I walked my baby back.
In retrospect, the nose-job probably wasn’t a good idea. Thank God my son’s pediatrician has the integrity to refuse to perform cosmetic surgery on a newborn!
Mandi Woolery is a mommy to three kiddos, wife to a super-supportive man, and owner of Peachy Keen Birth Services, located in Upland, CA. After having an all-around horrible birth experience the first time around, Mandi's passion for gentle birth began. She now teaches natural childbirth classes, and is constantly rewarded as she witnesses her students making informed decisions. In addition to preparing expectant couples through her Natural Childbirth classes, Mandi also has the great honor of attending births as a doula, and is in the process of obtaining her birth doula certification through DONA International. Update: Woolery is now working in the health field as a registered nurse. Medical Professionals for Genital Autonomy.
Also by Woolery:
A Public Apology to My Circumcised Son: http://www.DrMomma.org/2010/11/public-apology-to-my-circumcised-son.html
Related Reading:
Routine Toe Removal Has Benefits: http://www.DrMomma.org/2010/08/routine-toe-removal-has-health-benefits.html
The Medical Benefits of Infant Circumcision: http://www.DrMomma.org/2013/05/the-medical-benefits-of-infant.html
We're Piercing My Baby's Tongue: Here's Why: Reductress.com/post/were-piercing-my-babys-tongue-heres-why/
My Baby, My Choice: Why I pierced my baby's dimple: http://www.SavingSons.org/2017/07/my-baby-my-choice-why-i-got-our-babys.html
The Surgeon and the Consultant: A Circumcision Conversation: http://www.SavingSons.org/2014/12/the-surgeon-and-consultant-circumcision.html
Read more from Woolery at: Peachy Keen Birth Services
So, I took my newborn in for a nose-job…
and his pediatrician flipped out on me. Can you freaking believe it?!
I told her that his nose looked different than my husband’s, and I’d like them to look the same. This should avoid any awkward questions when he’s older. The doc looked at me like I was insane and told me that was no reason to perform elective surgery on a neonate.
I told her that the girls would probably like him better when he started dating if he had a nose-job. Again, baffled, the doctor told me that she could not, and would not, perform cosmetic surgery on a newborn for such a ridiculous reason.
I told the doc that I had heard a rumor that my son would be less likely to get rhinitis later in life if we removed a little of his schnozola. Starting to show a little concern for my parenting, she told me that there was no conclusive evidence to support elective surgery as a means of effectively preventing complications or infection in adulthood.
Starting to get impatient, I told her that I just wanted to get this over with. After all, my son would probably decide later in life that he’d like a designer nose, so it was better to just have it done now while he was too little to remember, and probably couldn’t feel it anyway. Looking at me like I was bonkers, she asked me what made me think that this perfectly formed little person wasn’t capable of feeling pain. Hadn’t he shrieked when he had a tiny pin-prick to draw blood from his heel? Of course he could feel pain!
I told her that I thought it would be easier for him to keep his nose clean if we just took a tiny bit off. I could see the doc making a mental note to call child protective services on my crazy ass, but she humored me and explained that it’s very easy to teach a child how to properly clean his nose.
I told her that I was afraid that years later all of his friends at school might have a certain kind of nose, and that he would be ridiculed for his. The doctor told me that everyone’s nose is different, and that she would not be performing elective surgery on a newborn for such an asinine reason.
I told her that I heard that lots of people were having their newborns’ noses done. She didn’t even have an answer for this one… she was just so shocked that her jaw hung open!
I told her that this was my baby, and I wanted this nose-job done today! After all, how risky could it be? The doc told me that performing surgery on a newborn is always risky, and should only be done when absolutely necessary for the well-being of the baby. END OF DISCUSSION. No nose-job would be happening for my baby today.
Disappointed, I began to leave. But then I remembered the other reason I had brought my baby in to the pediatrician’s office that day.
“When can we have him circumcised?” I asked.
“We can fit him in today if you’d like!” replied the doc. “Although your insurance doesn’t cover it any longer, so you’ll have to pay the full $500 up front. Is that okay?”
“Sure!” I replied, as I walked my baby back.
In retrospect, the nose-job probably wasn’t a good idea. Thank God my son’s pediatrician has the integrity to refuse to perform cosmetic surgery on a newborn!
*******
Also by Woolery:
A Public Apology to My Circumcised Son: http://www.DrMomma.org/2010/11/public-apology-to-my-circumcised-son.html
Related Reading:
Routine Toe Removal Has Benefits: http://www.DrMomma.org/2010/08/routine-toe-removal-has-health-benefits.html
The Medical Benefits of Infant Circumcision: http://www.DrMomma.org/2013/05/the-medical-benefits-of-infant.html
We're Piercing My Baby's Tongue: Here's Why: Reductress.com/post/were-piercing-my-babys-tongue-heres-why/
My Baby, My Choice: Why I pierced my baby's dimple: http://www.SavingSons.org/2017/07/my-baby-my-choice-why-i-got-our-babys.html
The Surgeon and the Consultant: A Circumcision Conversation: http://www.SavingSons.org/2014/12/the-surgeon-and-consultant-circumcision.html
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| Trust that his body will work exactly the way that it was made to. Postcards at Etsy |
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| Functions of the Foreskin Medical Professionals for Genital Autonomy Professional materials for sharing at Etsy. |
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