Former Olympian Libby Trickett endures painful procedure whilst caring for four children

Former Olympian Libby Trickett has managed to undergo a colonoscopy whilst still caring for her young four children.

Updating her followers via Instagram, Trickett explained her situation from a hospital bed. "Forget gold medals," her caption began.

Posing with a thumbs up in her blue hospital gown she continued: "I just navigated a colonoscopy prep with four kids - including gymnastics, dinner, bath, bed, breastfeeding, pulling out a tooth and school run for 3 of them."

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Trickett and husband Luke are parents to children Poppy, eight, Edwina, six, Bronte, four and Alfie, eight months.

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"I CAN LITERALLY DO ANYTHING!!!" her post continued, before providing some advice to her followers.

"Also, go and get your bits checked. Whether it's skin, cervix, prostate, breasts, colons. Do yourself and your family a favour - just go and do it," she said before adding a slew of hashtags. "#thatwasalotbutididit #itisnotapleasantlemontaste #hereforthelittlesandwichesafter #iykyk"

Her second photo showed her colonoscopy preparation drink that is required for the procedure.

Trickett believes it's important to show all of the highs and lows of parenting as a mother of four, telling 9honey's Jo Abi about her life as a mum.

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"Because it's so chaotic and it's so not clean but it's joyful and it's fun and it's colourful and it's wonderful as well," she said.

"You don't want to scare people... but we need to be upfront and honest. It's the hardest thing you will ever do, but it makes you a better human."

Her three daughters are all settled into school and kindergarten while she looks after her youngest child, son Alfie.

"It's so nice to now be at the other end of the spectrum and have that one-on-one time with just one baby and it feels very joyful," she says of spending time with Alfie while the rest of her kids are at school.

Navigating being a family of six can be tricky at the best of times, especially when trying to do it all on your own.

"A huge turning point for me as well is recognising that I don't have to do it all and I shouldn't do it all is actually setting kids up for the future is by us being a team and recognising that we can all contribute to the family," she said.

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As Trickett recovers from her colonoscopy, she will have her family's support on her side.