Planning a Bris After a Home Birth: What Parents Should Know

Home births and birthing center deliveries have become an increasingly familiar choice for families who want a more personal birth experience. If you're expecting a baby boy, however, there's another part of the newborn period that's worth planning for ahead of time: his bris or circumcision.

For Jewish families, a home birth generally doesn't make arranging a bris complicated at all. In fact, in many ways the two can fit together very naturally.

A mohel can come directly to your home, examine the baby beforehand, perform the circumcision with the parents and family present, and provide instructions and follow-up afterward.

There is no need for your baby to have been born in a hospital in order to have a bris.

Still, there are a few things that home-birth parents should know ahead of time—particularly regarding the baby's health after delivery, timing of the bris, Vitamin K, and when to contact your mohel.

Can You Have a Bris After a Home Birth?

Absolutely.

A healthy baby boy born at home can have a bris just as a baby born in a hospital can.

For a traditional Jewish bris, the circumcision is generally performed on the eighth day of life when the baby is healthy and there is no halachic or medical reason that requires it to be delayed.

The fact that the baby was delivered at home does not, by itself, change that.

In fact, many families choose to have the bris in their own home as well.

For parents who deliberately chose a private and comfortable environment for the birth, having the mohel come to the house can make the bris feel like a natural continuation of those first days with their baby.

When Should I Contact a Mohel If I'm Planning a Home Birth?

Ideally, before the baby is born.

You obviously won't know the exact date of the bris until your son arrives. But contacting a mohel during pregnancy gives you an opportunity to discuss the process and ask any questions that are specific to your birth plan.

Then, once your baby is born, you can simply call with the birth information and we can determine the appropriate date and timing for the bris.

This is especially helpful after a home birth because there may not be a hospital staff member reminding you about circumcision or arranging anything on your behalf.

You already know whom you're calling.

A Bris Can Be Performed Right in Your Home

One of the advantages of using a mohel is that newborn circumcision doesn't have to mean taking your baby to a hospital or doctor's office.

I regularly perform brissim and newborn circumcisions in families' homes.

Parents and family can be present, and the baby remains in a familiar, warm environment.

Before the circumcision, I review the baby's relevant health information and make sure that everything appears appropriate for proceeding.

The circumcision itself is brief. Afterward, I make sure everything looks appropriate and explain exactly what parents should expect during healing and how to care for the area.

And if you have a question later that day or during the healing process, you can contact me directly.

For parents who have just spent their baby's first week at home, avoiding another unnecessary trip with a newborn can be a significant convenience.

What If We Want the Bris Somewhere Other Than Our Home?

That's fine too.

A bris can take place in a home, synagogue, event space, or another appropriate location. Depending on the circumstances, a private circumcision can also be performed in a clinical setting.

Some families want a larger traditional bris with relatives and friends. Others want something extremely small and private.

Neither approach changes the fundamental responsibility of the mohel: making sure that the baby is an appropriate candidate for circumcision and performing the bris carefully and properly.

What Should the Mohel Know About the Home Birth?

When you call after delivery, tell your mohel anything significant about the birth and how the baby has been doing since then.

That includes things such as whether the baby was premature, whether there were complications during delivery, whether the baby has been feeding normally, whether there has been significant jaundice, and whether there are any health concerns being followed by your midwife, pediatrician, or another healthcare provider.

A bris being scheduled for the eighth day does not mean that it must take place regardless of the baby's condition.

The baby's health comes first.

If there is a concern, the bris may need to be delayed or I may ask you to have the baby evaluated by an appropriate healthcare professional before proceeding.

Home Birth, Vitamin K and Circumcision

Vitamin K is another subject that comes up frequently with home-birth families.

Medical professionals recommend that newborns receive a Vitamin K injection shortly after birth. Vitamin K is important for normal blood clotting, and the injection is given to reduce the risk of Vitamin K deficiency bleeding.

Parents considering whether to give their newborn the Vitamin K injection should discuss the benefits and risks with their pediatrician, midwife, or other qualified healthcare provider.

From the standpoint of arranging a circumcision, however, it's also important to discuss your decision with your mohel.

Although hospitals and medical providers will not perform newborn circumcision if the baby did not receive the Vitamin K injection, I perform brissim and circumcisions for babies who did not receive the Vitamin K shot.

That does not mean that I disregard the additional bleeding considerations involved. When a baby has not received Vitamin K, I discuss the situation with the parents and take additional precautions surrounding the circumcision.

I also consider the baby's individual birth and health history before proceeding. There may be circumstances in which I recommend delaying the bris or obtaining medical evaluation first.

If you're planning a home birth and already know that you don't intend to give the Vitamin K injection, it's helpful to tell me when we first speak rather than waiting until the day of the bris.

That way, we can discuss it calmly and plan appropriately.

What If We Are Using Oral Vitamin K?

Some home-birth families who decline the injection use an oral Vitamin K regimen instead.

If that's your plan, let me know exactly what the baby is receiving.

Oral and injected Vitamin K are not necessarily treated as interchangeable by medical providers, and oral protocols can vary. Parents should discuss the appropriate regimen and its effectiveness with their baby's healthcare provider.

From my perspective as the mohel, I want to have accurate information about what your baby received so that I can take it into account when planning the circumcision.

Does a Home-Birth Baby Still Need to See a Pediatrician Before the Bris?

Having a mohel perform your son's circumcision does not replace your baby's regular medical care.

Your pediatrician, midwife, or other newborn healthcare provider is responsible for the baby's overall medical care. A mohel's role is different.

Before performing a bris, I assess the baby as it relates to proceeding with the circumcision. If something raises a concern, I may ask that the baby be evaluated or cleared by his healthcare provider.

Parents should continue whatever newborn follow-up care has been recommended after their home or birthing-center delivery.

Why a Mohel Can Be Particularly Convenient After a Home Birth

A home birth puts parents in control of arranging much of their baby's newborn care.

That can be wonderful, but it also means you don't necessarily have a hospital coordinating everything for you.

Using an experienced mohel makes the circumcision part relatively simple.

Instead of trying to locate a doctor who performs outpatient newborn circumcision, determining which hospital will accept your baby, or bringing your newborn into another medical facility, you can arrange directly with someone whose practice specifically includes newborn circumcision.

And the service comes to you.

For many families, that's exactly what they wanted from a home birth in the first place: personal care, direct communication, and fewer unnecessary transitions for mother and baby.

What Is the Circumcision Like?

Parents sometimes picture circumcision as a lengthy medical procedure.

Newborn circumcision itself is generally quite brief.

Before beginning, there is preparation and an assessment of the baby. During a Jewish bris, there are also the traditional honors, brachos and elements of the ceremony.

The circumcision itself, however, is quick.

Parents are not left wondering what is happening to their baby behind closed doors. The bris takes place with the family present.

Afterward, I check the baby and review aftercare with the parents, including what the area should look like, how to care for it during diaper changes, and when to call with a concern.

Healing then progresses over the days that follow.

What If We Want a Very Small Bris?

That's completely fine.

A bris doesn't need to be a large event.

Some families have a house full of relatives and friends. Others have only the parents, baby, mohel, and the few people necessary for the bris.

Home-birth families sometimes particularly appreciate the option of keeping things small. After giving birth, a mother may not be interested in hosting a major event eight days later.

The mitzvah of bris milah doesn't depend on the size of the party.

You can have a beautiful and meaningful bris without turning your home into a catering hall.

What If We Aren't Looking for a Religious Bris?

I also provide private newborn circumcision for families who are not looking for a Jewish religious ceremony.

Some families find a mohel while searching for alternatives to hospital circumcision, particularly after a home birth or birthing center delivery.

In those situations, the procedure can simply be a private or cultural circumcision without a Jewish ceremony.

The same advantages can apply: direct communication with the circumcision provider, the ability to have the procedure performed at home in appropriate cases, parents present, and direct follow-up afterward.

So while much of my practice involves traditional Jewish brissim, my circumcision services are not limited to families looking for a religious ceremony.

What Should I Ask a Mohel Before the Baby Is Born?

If you're interviewing a mohel, don't hesitate to ask questions.

You can ask about experience, circumcision technique, pain management, sterilization, aftercare, what happens if the baby is jaundiced or unwell, and how easily you'll be able to reach the mohel afterward.

For a home birth, you should also mention anything about your newborn-care plans that may be relevant.

If you're declining Vitamin K, say so.

If you're planning oral Vitamin K, say so.

If there are unusual circumstances surrounding the pregnancy or anticipated delivery, mention them.

It's much easier to discuss these things before the baby arrives than while you're trying to organize a bris several days after giving birth.

Home Birth and Bris Milah Can Fit Together Naturally

A home birth doesn't make arranging a bris difficult.

In many ways, it can make choosing a mohel an especially natural fit.

Your baby can be born at home, spend his first days at home, and—in appropriate circumstances—have his bris in that same comfortable environment surrounded by his family.

You have direct access to the person performing the circumcision.

You know what to expect beforehand.

You're present for the procedure.

And afterward, you have someone to call who knows your baby and actually performed his circumcision.

The main thing is simply to plan ahead.

Planning a Home Birth and Expecting a Boy?

If you're planning a home birth or birthing center delivery and expecting a baby boy, you're welcome to contact me before the birth.

I provide traditional bris milah services as well as private newborn circumcision, with home visits available throughout New Jersey and many areas of New York, Pennsylvania, Connecticut and Delaware.

We can discuss your plans before delivery, including where you'd like the bris or circumcision performed and any circumstances I should know about.

If your baby will not be receiving the Vitamin K injection, please mention that as well. I do perform circumcisions for babies who have not received Vitamin K, using additional precautions and evaluating each baby's circumstances individually. Your decision regarding newborn Vitamin K should be discussed with your baby's healthcare provider.

Then, once your son arrives, give me a call.

We'll take it from there.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you have a bris after a home birth?

Yes. A baby born at home can have a bris just as a baby born in a hospital can. For a healthy Jewish baby, the bris is generally performed on the eighth day when there is no medical or halachic reason to delay it.

Can the mohel come to our home?

Yes. I regularly perform brissim and newborn circumcisions in families' homes. This allows the baby to remain in a familiar environment and the parents to be present.

Do you perform circumcision if the baby didn't receive Vitamin K?

Yes. I do perform brissim and circumcisions for babies who did not receive the Vitamin K injection. I take additional precautions and consider each baby's individual circumstances before proceeding. Parents should discuss the medical benefits and risks of Vitamin K with their baby's healthcare provider.

Should we contact the mohel before our baby is born?

Yes. You don't need to schedule an exact date before delivery, but making contact beforehand allows us to discuss the process, your plans, and anything relevant to your baby's care. After the birth, you can call with the baby's information.

What happens if the baby has jaundice or another health concern?

Let me know before the bris. Depending on the baby's condition, the bris may need to be delayed or I may recommend that the baby first be evaluated by his healthcare provider.

Does a bris have to be a large event?

No. A bris can be very small and private. Some families invite many relatives and friends, while others choose to have only a few people present.

Do you also perform non-religious newborn circumcision?

Yes. In addition to traditional bris milah, I provide private newborn circumcision for families who are not looking for a Jewish religious ceremony.