Question

Answer

If both you and your husband agree to a circumcision, then it is best to do it as a brit milah (bris).

First of all, a mohel is a specialist who only does this kind of operation. The royal house in England used a mohel, not a doctor, for their boys! The circumcision done in the hospital is most often done by a resident or by a doctor who does not frequently circumcize. The hospital generally doesn't allow family and friends in. Lastly, the equipment generally used by a hospital drags out the procedure, called a Gumco Clamp. So, a good mohel with a recommendation is a far better choice from the standpoint of medical procedure, use of anaesthetic, frequency of experience, etc. In addition, it appears that the 8th day is optimum for the child's immune system and medical health.

If a doctor does perform a circumcision (not a brit milah) and the children decide later they want to be considered Jewish, then a ceremony called "hatafat dam brit", in which a pin-point of blood is drawn from the foreskin, is performed. Why put a child through this unnecessarily?

Lastly, if a mohel is used for the circumcision, then the issue of a Hebrew name is resolved as he can officially give the babies their Hebrew names.