postpartum pooping

Okay idk about y'all but I had a second degree tear and stitches, I'm now 5 weeks post partum but shitting still can e more painful than childbirth! Granted I had an epidural in the end...... I swear I'm tearing e dry time I try to take a poop. I'm ebf and besides the poop struggles I feel great and my body is pretty much normal besides some stretch marks I didn't have before I got pregnant. But Jesus Christ, how long did it take you guys to have normal pooping activity? When did the pain go away? I bought some stool softeners today in an effort to help the process.... any advice would be much appreciated.