Former reality star from the U.K. and proud mom of two boys, Stacey Solomon is used to ruffling feathers with her take on a variety of parenting topics. After all, she's one of several hosts on the British show Loose Women, which covers a wide variety of topics moms deal with — and often butt heads — on every day. But on a recent episode, Stacey spoke out about her experience with circumcision and her thoughts left many surprised.
In the midst of a conversation about ear piercing, Stacey told the panel that she had grown to regret her decision to have her son circumcised.
"I had my son circumcised," the 28-year-old, who is Jewish and mom to sons Zachary, 10, and Leighton, 6, shared. "I had this exact discussion with everyone who thought there was something wrong with it. But it was part of my culture, something I was told is better for the child, cleaner. As I got older, my cultural views doesn't make it any different to what it actually is. … I actually started feeling guilty about what I'd done and whether it was the right thing to do, but there's nothing I can do about it now. At the time I believed absolutely it was in my child's best interests and was done with the best heart. It's funny how we can excuse certain things because of cultural reasons."
She didn't specify whether it was Zachary or Leighton who was circumcised. The surgical removal of the foreskin is common practice and ritual for those of both Jewish and Islamic faith. (Some secular and atheist Jews are choosing to forgo the tradition.)
Unsurprisingly, Stacey's remarks opened the floodgates of various opinions from both camps: people who are against circumcision ...
... and those who believe it is the right thing to do, either for religious and/or health reasons.
Ultimately, opting to circumcise or not is absolutely an individual decision for parents.
It also bears noting that, according to a 2014 study, 77 percent of newborns in the United States are circumcised. The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that the benefits outweigh the risks because it can help prevent bladder infections and sexually transmitted diseases. Other benefits included a decreased chance of getting an urinary tract infection as well as a lower risk for developing cancer of the penis. (Rare risks of the procedure include infection, incomplete removal of the skin, and damage to the penis.)
Ultimately, experts encourage moms and dads to do their own research and come to their own conclusion on what is best for their child. It's a tough decision, as Stacey Solomon's experience proves. But it's also a very personal one that parents should never be guilted for, one way or the other.
