She faced criticising for being allowed to see her grandchildren during COVID-19 lockdown in Melbourne, while many other grandparents didn’t have the privilege.
And on Wednesday, Patti Newtown explained that she and her husband, Bert, were granted ‘permission from the doctors to look after the little ones’ because their daughter, Lauren, was going through a difficult pregnancy.
Lauren was in hospital for three months, and the authorities ruled that Bert and Patti had an essential role to play in taking care of their grandkids.
‘She went into hospital, and was there for three months’: Patti Newtown (left) has detailed the reason she and her husband, Bert, were granted ‘permission from the doctors to look after the little ones’ when their daughter, Lauren (right) , was in hospital after a ‘difficult pregnancy’
In ordinary circumstances, grandparents weren’t allowed to see their grandchildren during the lockdown.
‘[My daughter Lauren] had a very difficult pregnancy and she went into hospital, and was there for three months,’ the 75-year-old told Now To Love.
‘To make everything easier, Bert and I got permission from the doctors to look after the little ones,’ she said, adding that her son-in-law, Matt Welsh, was ‘doing lots of things’ and couldn’t handle all five children on his own.
Family matters: The doting grandparents were quick to step in and help keep the ‘little ones’ busy while their 40-year-old daughter, Lauren, healed from the premature delivery of her sixth child, Alby James Newton Welsh. Pictured: Lauren with Alby and husband Matt Welsh
Bert and Patti were quick to step in while their 40-year-old daughter prepared for and recovered from the premature delivery of her sixth child, Alby James.
The little boy was welcomed into the family seven weeks early, in August.
The showbusiness veterans are also grandparents to Lauren’s five other children: Sam, 11, Eva, nine, Lola, six, Monty, two, and Perla, 18 months.
Sharing responsibilities: Patti and Bert are also grandparents to Lauren’s five other children – Sam, 11, Eva, nine, Lola, six, Monty, two, and Perla, 18 months (all pictured)
Patti, who stripped off for The All New Monty: Guys and Gals in September, recently shared an Instagram tribute to other grandparents doing it tough during the coronavirus pandemic.
‘I know a lot of us grandparents have been missing out on seeing the little ones the past few months,’ Patti captioned her post.
‘We’ve been lucky to keep in touch with ours, but I can’t imagine not getting to see their smiling faces everyday.’
Showstopper: Patti’s explanation follows stripping off for The All New Monty: Guys and Gals in September (pictured) and sharing a heartfelt message of support to those who may be feeling ‘a little lonely’ throughout lockdown
Reaching out: Patti Newton (left) shared a heartfelt message of support to grandparents who could be feeling ‘a little lonely’ amid coronavirus lockdowns. Pictured: Patti with Bert and three of their grandchildren
‘We’ve been lucky to keep in touch with ours, but I can’t imagine not getting to see their smiling faces everyday.’
Patti and Bert were pictured playing LEGO with three of their daughter Lauren’s children.
‘We’ve been lucky to keep in touch with ours, but I can’t imagine not getting to see their smiling faces everyday’: Patti and Bert with their daughter Lauren and her husband, Matt,as well as their beautiful kids