Dealing With A Third Degree Tear

The title of this post pretty much sums it all up.
When I gave birth, I had a third degree tear that needed stitches. I couldn't find anything online to give me advice on how to deal with it so here is my advice from my own experience.

• Keep maternity towels on you at all times. Not only will you be bleeding anyway, I felt that have the area in contact with a maternity towel instead of just underwear was a lot more comfortable.
• Sitting down will be a struggle so always have a pillow to sit on to make things a little easier.
• Don't be scared to poop. It won't hurt, it will only sting a little. Put your feet on a box to help things run smoothly so you don't have to push. Relax, go on your phone and have the tap running. Don't ask me why the tap, I don't know, I just know it somehow helps.
• If peeing stings for you, pour some slightly warm water to the area while you pee. It will soothe the area a little and make it more comfortable for you.
• If you feel that the area has been sore for too long and you don't feel things are getting better within a week or two, don't be scared to call your midwife. That's what they are there for. It could be a sign of infection so it's important you look into it. 
• Also, if you accidentally push when you poo the first few times, don't panic. Your stitches will not rip apart. 
• Take some paracetamol to help with the pain, especially if you are going to be doing some walking. This can help for the first week or so. If you have an infection you may need to have stronger painkillers but always remember to contact your GP first.
• Don't force yourself to do too much. If people offer you help, take as much of it as you can. 
• Don't be afraid to tell your partner "no". You just had a baby and had to be stitched up. Even though some people heal fast, you're likely to not be ready for a while. That's perfectly normal. Don't stress out about it, things will get there.

I hope this helps you, ladies. At the end of the day, your body just went through something pretty big. It's normal for it to take a while before you feel like yourself again. 

Have you had a tear? What advice would you give? I would love to hear your advice on the subject and your previous experiences.