Metsitsah b'peh (MBP) literally translates as "suction with the mouth". Historically, it was thought that suctioning blood from a wound would help it heal (leeches were used for a similar purpose). So applying suction to the wound created by a new bris was done to keep the child healthy and the easiest, and probably only, source of suction was someones mouth. Direct oral suction was applied to the wound to draw out some blood and keep it clean. As discussed on The Halacha page, there are some who feel that, whatever MBP's original motivation, it is a necessary part of the mitzvah of bris milah. When using the term "MBP" today, most- and we- are referring to direct oral suction. However...
Today, most Modern Orthodox mohels do this procedure with a pipette, sucking some blood out of the wound via this glass straw, to avoid any direct contact with the wound, in keeping with modern medical understanding. For those who believe that MBP is an necessary part of the halocho, this is an excellent way to maintain that tradition while still keeping babies safe.
Today, most Modern Orthodox mohels do this procedure with a pipette, sucking some blood out of the wound via this glass straw, to avoid any direct contact with the wound, in keeping with modern medical understanding. For those who believe that MBP is an necessary part of the halocho, this is an excellent way to maintain that tradition while still keeping babies safe.
