After I gave birth they gave me a stool softener- not sure exactly what it was, I just took it. Only once, but it helped tremendously.

Make sure to take some surgical gloves in the bathroom with you when you feel that need to poo! It may be gross, but you may need to "help " it come out.... and you don't want to be barehanded for that!
The stool softener I got with my son helped, but with my daughter I wasn't as lucky!