Recovery after vaginal birth

[Queenofhearts3]

I am due next week and hoping to have a vaginal birth. I was just wondering if there’s anything I can do/use afterwards to make recovery quicker/less painful? Thinking more that if I need stitches etc. I’d read about using witch hazel diluted in a bath? Has anyone done that and found it helpful? I’ve seen the sprit for bitz stuff that’s out there but it’s so expensive!! Any advice would be appreciated! Thanks

You quickly find the correct angle for peeing which means the wee misses the stitches. Dab with tissue rather than wipe.
Sitz bath morning and evening.
Big squidgy maternity pads.
Most importantly, DON'T get the mirror and look 😉

I survived using above info 4 times. 3 times with stitches in varying amounts and twice with horrendous haemorrhoids. The latter much worse actually than the rest of th damage IMO.
Preparation H an absolute Godsend 👍🏻

I had third degree tear because I took the midwife’s direction that I needed to push “much much harder” to the extreme (meaning DD popped out all in one go).

It was fine and I wasn’t even very sore afterwards. Didn’t do anything special or use any remedies. Didn’t have any stinging when peeing or really any pain when pooing (but was on laxatives). Kept taking ibuprofen and paracetamol alternately to “cover” myself for pain though (on midwifes advise). Please don’t worry. I was so worried about tearing and it was not the worst thing in the world at all

Ps yes to the above @ladyoftheflowers - don’t get a mirror and look!!!

Also just remembered I do have a kind of tip

I was paranoid about infecting my stitches after a number 2 so I used to have a quick blast of the shower after going to the loo then dab dry with a towel. Only time I’ve ever wished I had a bidet really!!

Ask how injured you are!

I was sent home from hospital not knowing the extent of the damage and didn't rest/get help accordingly.

If I'd had known I would have done things very differently!

A rubber ring , if you can get one.