I have never seen a baby strapped down like that before (only in America) and if he is anaesthetised, I bet you that's far more distressing than the actual circumcision. Finding decent information about circumcision is really hard. Most of the stuff on the internet is opinion based to one extreme or the other, and each have their own propaganda. Finding something that comes from a neutral stand-point is almost impossible. It's a really polarised area of opinion.

I agree that it's a personal choice. I personally don't see circumcision as being any different to vaccination, both are done in the name of preventative measures, and each should be decided based upon individual risk/benefits and values. The WHO have research that says there are health benefits, and a lot of medical bodies have changed their policies regarding circumcision from "closed" to more "open" language, saying it's the parent's choice because there really isn't a definitive answer despite the extremes in opinion.

This is an issue that we are currently struggling with ourselves. We have a history of autism and yeast over-growth in our family. The risks of DS getting an infection and/or not having the capacity to clean properly are much higher than average on both counts - we can't stick our heads in the sand, but have to take this into account. I believe it will be far more traumatising getting it done later, then just after he's born. It's something we are going to have to decide soon as I'm 38 weeks, and if we are going to get it done, we'll get it done within the first 2 weeks when the foreskin is thinest and healing is at maximum. At this time, I still conflicted and in the end we'll just go with our guts. My DH isn't done, but thinks it's important to be the same as his sons, as children get their identities from home and are far more likely to see dad's penis when going to the toilet or having a shower than they are other males. So if we do get it done, DH has decided he will go get done to as an adult as well (because he would never do something to his children, he wouldn't be prepared to do himself) - so you can see, it's not a decision we take lightly. But it is a personal decision, and its relative.

OP - I don't think it would be too hard to find a doctor in Sydney who will do it, you'll just have to ring around and investigate what method you want it done by - there's loose, low, high, tight depending on whether they take just the outside foreskin, or both outside and inner foreskin. Whether the doctor uses the clamp or plastibell or other method etc. would also dictate which type you get. I think most adult men who were done as babies have a high and tight (you'd be able to tell this on your partner by where the slight colour change is on the shaft - it's normally about half way up). I know the Jewish people normally go for a low and tight, so the skin taken is only enough to reveal the glands. As you can see, there are a number of different options...