I find the whole issue quite interesting to read everyone's thoughts on it. It doesn't appear with this bub that it'll be an issue (unless she suprisingly comes out a boy! *L*).

Growing up, I found that for older male siblings (say born late 70's, early 80s) it was just the done thing. It was definately considered to be 'better' because it helped keep their penises clean and free from infection.

I was talking to my Mum about it the other day; she had a fairly traumatic experience when having my older brother done. He had the procedure 1 day after recommended in NSW; which in the end left my brother screaming in agony and bleeding non-stop the entire day. In fact, when Mum brought him home, he wouldn't stop crying no matter what she did. You can only imagine her dismay when she answered a knock at the door and found two policeman on her front doorstep. Apparently due to Owen's screaming, a neighbour had assumed she was beating him (or neglecting him) and had called the police. Mum explained the situation; showed them the bandaging and they apologised and left.

Ironically, neither of my younger twin brothers have been done (they were born in '86) yet Mum still says that she believes the procedure to be good with respect to cleanliness.

My DH has not been done; he was the youngest of three boys and his father is a GP. I believe the eldest had the procedure but both my DH's parents then felt it was not necessary for the two youngest.

Of course, the procedure is done different today than it was when we were little. I'm just not sure I could do it personally; mostly because I couldn't handle to see my own child in any pain. If in this day and age they could convince me that it was healthier for a boy to have it done; I would consider it. I mean, we all know innoculations/vaccinations are done to help keep our children well, despite how much we know our children hate/cry from needles.