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Yikes. I had a second degree tear. Yours sounds so much worse tho. I would take it easy. Don't walk a lot, sit on a donut, take sitzs baths at least once a day. I would fill up the bathtub with warm water and soak for 15 minutes before my shower every night. I totally regret trying to walk and do too much the first couple of weeks. I should have taken it easier and I may have healed quicker. I had pain and soreness for about 6 weeks.

ETA: And I loved tucks. So soothing. You could also freeze a diaper or pad for some relief.

@mrskc: haha, I see we think alike. I totally think I slowed my recovery by walking around too much.

*gasp!* *horror* I have no advice whatsoever, but you poor thing!

Yikes. I second all of the above advice (I had a 2nd degree tear on top of an episiotomy) but one thing I wanted to add is that one of my nurses recommended sitting on a folded up bath or hand towel in the tub in water as hot as I could stand for 10-15 minutes to help speed healing.

ouch!
I didn't tear but had a massive mediolateral episiotomy, down to muscle. (DS was stuck posterior and brow out, it's the only way I delivered vaginally, eek)

The only advice I can give is use that peri bottle. Warm water did wonders for healing and the 'roids.
Be careful moving positions when you're nursing/sitting for long periods. Sometimes I'd shift my position and it was so painful.
By my 6 week follow up I was cleared for everything but still a little sore.

Yikes so sorry! I also only had second degree but thirsting to rest. I did too much and ended up infected and back in emergency surgery.on short notice when I waited too long to get checked out. I found it very helpful to sit with my legs tucked straight back under me for the first three weeks until I felt more normal. I also tried a foam donut and the boppy but they weren't as comfortable. I did sits baths and blow drying after three times a day after my surgery under the suggestion of my OB and it helped a lot. Rest up!!

I had a 3rd degree with my first and 2nd with my son.
No real advice.. I didn't take pain meds and just dealt with the pain. I think I was on baby high because the pain wasn't too bad.
I would stay off your feet and rest. Drink lots of fluids, eat well and sleep when you can!
Congrats again!

@mrskc: @Arden: i was going to say DONT sit on a donut.

I had third degree tears and an episiotomy, thank you back labour and 3.5 hours of pushing. The pain went away after 2 weeks. Back to the donut- it actually makes the tears worse because it spreads your ass cheeks even further. It feels good for the first 30 minutes, but it feels worse afterwards. I would try lying down for nursing sessions. Highly recommend sitz baths 3x a day (easier said than done because who has the time???) and use the peri bottle after every pee/poop! I also made pad popsicles...soak a maxi pad and freeze it flat. You can add aloe vera or witch hazel to help with the healing. Seriously, it feels so much better and less messy than those ice bag packs the hospital gives you.

Hope you feel better soon!

I took voltaren which goes in like a suppository and has no effect on milk.

@Freckles: good to know about the donut. I never used one, but thought it would have been helpful.

The sitz baths were amazing for me too! I could only manage one a day, but if you can do more, even better!

I didn't have a third degree tear, but it took a few days for me to realize most of my pain (like 95%) was from hemorrhoids and not my tear. I used Ching Wan Hung burn cream at the advice of my doula. Scary name, but it's insanely helpful.

I had a third degree tear and tore in a "star" shape. I had 32 stitches.
The only thing that helped recovery for me (aside from lots of ibuprofen and dermoplast) was rest. I always felt worse after moving around too much. Also, a cold compress on my private area helped too! It took me a good eight weeks to be pain free.
Hang in there!

My boss likes to talk about her third degree tear a lot (not fun to hear about when you're pregnant). Basically her doctor told her to rest as though she'd had a c-section, so minimal walking, mostly rest. She went to PT, too.
I guess with her second pregnancy they discussed going straight to c-section. She had a much easier vaginal birth this time though!

Sounds very painful, hope you heal quickly!

I had a 2nd degree tear but tore in a Y shape. I really think my doc should've given me an episiotomy. Take it easy mama! I used a lot of ice packs, tucks, and dermaplast.

Yikes! Haven't had my LO yet, but I am thinking of you!!!

First congrats! I hope you have a speedy recovery.
I didnt tear much but I had 3rd degree lateral episiotomy because DS was, sunny side up, stuck and his heart rate was low. I had so many stitches, and then my body started rejecting them. So painful. I took naproxen, which took the edge off, and showered twice a day for releif. Like others I think moving too much those first weeks made healing more painful and longer. I wasn't healed at 2 months (probably because of the stitch rejection) but was at 4 months though sex wasn't remotely pleasurable until 6 months. I honestly thought it would never heal, I was so stressed - but it did and everything is working perfectly.

3rd degree tear hear with an upwards urethra tear. I didn't take strong pain killers bc they make me sick so I stuck with Advil/Tylenol for the 1st 2 weeks then as needed. I took stool softeners for about 3 months. That's also how long the hemroids lasted for me. Another side effect I have at 6 months pp is that if I don't go poop when I feel like I have too, I almost can't hold it (no trouble with that before). I think I didn't feel any terrible pain after 6-7 weeks. I was glad I took 12 weeks off from work bc 6 or 8 weeks would have been too soo for me pain-wise. I used the Peri bottle a lot, dermaplast on really bad days, & frozen pads. I wanted to use witch hazel but had a bad reaction one time and didn't want to chance it. I should have done sitz baths, but I didn't.
TBH, the pain from breastfeeding helped tale my mind off the tears initially
Hope this helps a little!

Found this looking for support after my 3rd degree and labial tear. I am 6 days PP and had a breakdown sobbing last night. I've only left the apartment for DS's first pedi apt, but Ben walking around the apartment to so basic things like get a glass of water or go to the bathroom are taxing. Sleep deprived, in pain and overwhelmed by life with a new born i just lost it before bed last night. I feel like I'll never feel normal down there again, but I know it is so early and I need to go easy on my self and my body. @Arden: how are you healing? Any advice from down the recovery road? I also had the repair work (one hour) done with lidocaine though they tried to get me to get an epidural! After birthing med free there is no way unwanted to get the epi. i really hope you're doing well.