Sex after delivery

It is best to wait to have sexual intercourse until you do feel any more pain. Did you have an incision or did the skin between your vagina and anus (perineum) tear during delivery? Then it is best to wait until the wound has fully healed. The doctor can give you advice.

Be careful when you have sexual intercourse for the first time after delivery. Take it slowly and very gently.

As a couple you have to find a new balance in life. Lack of sleep, stress and emotions can affect your sex life:

  • A lot of women are tired, have a painful or dry vagina and painful breasts. They do not feel like having sex (less sexual desire). This is also often related to breast-feeding. In this case you can use lubricant.
  • Men can also have difficulties having sex again because they are afraid that they will hurt their partner.

Kinds of sex

Sex is more than just penetration. There are different kinds of sex. You can also masturbate, caress, massage, cuddle or have oral sex with your partner.

Different kinds of sex - example 1: masturbation
Different kinds of sex - example 1: masturbation
Different kinds of sex - example 2: caressing
Different kinds of sex - example 2: caressing
Different kinds of sex - example 3: cuddling
Different kinds of sex - example 3: cuddling
Different kinds of sex - example 4: oral sex
Different kinds of sex - example 4: oral sex

Contraception

A woman is fertile again around 3 weeks after delivery. She can get pregnant if she has unprotected sex, even if she has not yet had a menstrual period. Use a method of contraception when having sexual intercourse.

While breast-feeding, it is best to use a condom or the mini-pill.

Seks na de bevalling

U wacht het best met geslachtsgemeenschap totdat u geen pijn meer voelt. Heeft u hechtingen? Dan wacht u het best tot de wonde volledig genezen is. De gynaecoloog of vroedvrouw kan u advies geven.

Wees voorzichtig de eerste keer dat u geslachtsgemeenschap heeft na de bevalling. Doe het langzaam en zachtjes aan. 

Veel koppels moeten een nieuw evenwicht in hun leven zoeken. Slaaptekort, stress en emoties kunnen uw seksleven beïnvloeden:

  • Veel vrouwen zijn moe na de bevalling en hebben een pijnlijke of droge vagina en pijnlijke borsten. Ze hebben geen zin in seks (minder seksueel verlangen). Vaak heeft dit ook met borstvoeding te maken. U kunt dan glijmiddel gebruiken.
  • Ook mannen kunnen het moeilijk hebben om weer seks te hebben omdat ze bang zijn dat ze hun partner pijn zullen doen.

Soorten seks

Seks is meer dan penetratie alleen. Er zijn verschillende soorten seks. U kunt ook masturberen, strelen, masseren, knuffelen en orale seks hebben met uw partner.

Soorten seks - voorbeeld 1: masturbatie
Soorten seks - voorbeeld 1: masturbatie
Soorten seks - voorbeeld 2: strelen
Soorten seks - voorbeeld 2: strelen
Soorten seks - voorbeeld 3: knuffelen
Soorten seks - voorbeeld 3: knuffelen
Soorten seks - voorbeeld 4: orale seks
Soorten seks - voorbeeld 4: orale seks

Anticonceptie

Ongeveer 3 weken na de bevalling is een vrouw opnieuw vruchtbaar. Bij onbeschermde seks kan ze zwanger worden, ook als ze nog geen menstruatie heeft gehad. Gebruik daarom anticonceptie.

Zolang u borstvoeding geeft, gebruikt u het best het condoom of de minipil.

More information or help needed?

Family doctor
You can talk to a family doctor about almost every intimate issue. If necessary the family doctor can refer you to a specialised health professional. Find a family doctor in your neighbourhood:
Community health centre (wijkgezondheidscentrum)
You can visit a family doctor in a community health centre. Other care professionals such as nurses and social workers also work at community health centres. Care is provided free of charge. Find a community health centre in your neighbourhood:
Aquarelle
Prenatal and postnatal care for women who migrated to Belgium
02 535 47 13
De Kraamtuin
Information about a desire to have children, pregnancy, delivery, maternity care, breast-feeding and parenthood.
078 05 52 00
Expertisecentrum Kraamzorg De Bakermat
Information about a desire to have children, pregnancy, delivery, maternity care, breast-feeding and parenthood.
016 20 77 40
Expertisecentrum Kraamzorg De Kraamvogel
Information about a desire to have children, pregnancy, delivery, maternity care, breast-feeding and parenthood.
03 238 11 00
Expertisecentrum Kraamzorg De Wieg
Information about a desire to have children, pregnancy, delivery, maternity care, breast-feeding and parenthood.
0473 45 14 38, 050 33 02 70
Expertisecentrum Kraamzorg Kraamkaravaan
Information about a desire to have children, pregnancy, delivery, maternity care, breast-feeding and parenthood.
09 333 57 60
Expertisecentrum Kraamzorg Volle maan
Information about a desire to have children, pregnancy, delivery, maternity care, breast-feeding and parenthood.
02 229 25 58, 0478 88 11 86
Midwife
A midwife helps pregnant women before, during and after delivery. Find a midwife in your neighbourhood:
Sexologist
Therapy for sexual problems. A sexologist looks for a solution through conversations with one or both partners. Find a sexologist in your neighbourhood:
Gynaecologist
In Belgium, you can make an appointment directly with the gynaecologist without a referral from your family doctor. However, your family doctor can help you find a gynaecologist.