Motherhood leaves women isolated: survey:

Of the more than 1000 Australian women surveyed by Galaxy Research, 87% said rearing kids made them feel isolated.

24% said they felt isolated on most days, 12% said they experienced isolation all the time and only 13% reported never feeling isolated.

With mothers facing increasing pressure to work and provide hands-on care to their children, parenting expert and author Pinky McKay said many felt they were all on their own.

"I see many new mums struggling with sleep issues and feeding issues," Ms McKay said in the report.

"Often they are afraid to reach out and ask for help because there is this perception that everyone else is coping.

"This leaves women feeling isolated because they fear being judged or think they are somehow failing."

When mothers were asked if they felt valued more now than in previous generations, 57% said they felt less so while 43% said they felt more valued.

And when it came to grabbing some time for themselves, 47% said they had less than two hours of free time a week.

Mothers in the 30 to 34 age group reported the least amount of "me time" at 33 minutes a day, while those over 40 managed to garner 45 minutes a day.

The research also showed that 55% of mothers felt guilty about balancing work with spending time with their kids.

However the results weren't all negative.

This decade was voted the best time to be raising children by 31% of mothers, followed by the 1980s at 19%.

Only 4% of mums voted the 1930s and 40s as the best times to bring up a baby.

What do you think? Do you agree?