Olympic gold medallist Libby Trickett has revealed how the power of social media has been one of the biggest challenges she faces as a mother.

The former Australian swimmer said vulnerable mothers who are constantly seeing the seemingly perfect lives other parents lead on Facebook or Instagram could be detrimental, shares Daily Mail.

Speaking to Kidspot, the 32-year-old has called on fellow mothers to share the reality of being a parent – whether it’s good or bad moments.

‘Share the poo in the bath. Share the midnight spew you’ve just had to clean up…share those moments as well as the gorgeous first birthday and the perfectly made cake and those sorts of things,’ she said.

On parenthood Libby said, ‘It’s probably tested me to my limits more than I ever could have imagined. More than I was tested in swimming because swimming I was good at, you know. And you kind of get feedback that you’re good at it…,’ she said.

‘But when you have a newborn particularly, but even at 19 months you still kind of go “I don’t know if I’m doing a good job. I don’t know if this is the right way to do it.’

On Monday, Ms Trickett spoke candidly on Instagram about the tough side of motherhood in an effort to remind other parents they ‘are not alone’.

‘It’s sometimes hard to put into words what motherhood is,’ she said.

‘Yes, it’s joyful. Yes, it’s a blessing. Yes, it is without a doubt an absolute miracle. But it’s also hard and lonely. It can be isolating and bone achingly tiring.

‘I found the transition to motherhood tough. Hell, I still can find it bloody tough at times 19 months in but I wanted to share my story in case it helps another mother out there that might be finding things hard right now.

‘And mums, out there, just remember you are not alone!! If you’re having a tough time, reach out for help. We are all just trying to do our best.’

It’s sometimes hard to put into words what motherhood is. Yes, it’s joyful. Yes, it’s a blessing. Yes, it is without a doubt an absolute miracle. But it’s also hard and lonely. It can be isolating and bone achingly tiring. I found the transition to motherhood tough. Hell, I still can find it bloody tough at times 19 months in but I wanted to share my story in case it helps another mother out there that might be finding things hard right now. Check out the @mamamiaaus podcast by @alissawarren. Link in bio. And mum’s, out there, just remember you are not alone!! If you’re having a tough time, reach out for help. We are all just trying to do our best xx

A post shared by Libby (@libby_trickett) on Apr 17, 2017 at 4:46am PDT

Speaking to Mamamia, the 32-year-old said she screamed at her new baby because she hadn’t slept for more than 45 minutes after her daughter arrived.

‘I ended up yelling at her, literally at the top of my lungs for about 15 minutes straight,’ the mother-of-one said, honestly.

‘I was so resentful of the fact that she wasn’t letting me sleep and I had no space from her because we were co-sleeping all night and then she was tired because she was waking every 45 minutes, too…

‘It felt like we weren’t connecting the way I really wanted to.’

After she found herself ‘yelling’ at Poppy, she went to see her GP as well as a psychologist.

Libby admits she makes sure she does something that is ‘nourishing for myself’. Whether she goes for a morning walk or heads to the gym to go for a swim or lift some weights.

‘That could be considered as quite selfish but you can’t pour from an empty cup,’ she said.

Do you try and take a moment each day just for YOU?

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