Meet Lauren Newton

Mother of two Lauren Newton talks to Mum Zone readers about motherhood, her children Sam and Eva, her husband Matt Welsh, her parents Patti and Bert Newton and her brother Matthew Newton.

Right: Lauren and her daughter Eva in her Bertini cot

Interview with Lauren Newton

How were your pregnancies? Were they similar or different?

Both were born at 37 weeks. I was still enjoying pregnancy at this stage, I have heard from friends that the last few weeks gets uncomfortable and difficult but I didn't get that far. Sam was 6lb 15oz and Eva was 6lb 8oz.

How are you finding motherhood with two young children in tow?

Different obviously. More work and dividing of time between the two of them needed. Sam was still only young (16 months) when we had Eva so it was like having two babies still. Trying to find the time to do things with Sam as well as Eva is the biggest challenge.

Who do your kids look the most like - your side of the family or your husband Matt Welsh's side of the family?

Sam looked ridiculously like Bert when he was born but as he has gotten older, he has changed and looks a bit like everyone. Still has the big round face though but has Matt's exact body. Eva, hard to tell yet, she had lots of dark curly hair, dark eyes and olive skin when she was born. She has the big round face though.

Above Right: Lauren and family in their Bertini nursery

Do you think your kids will follow Matt's lead and become swimmers or your family's lead and become entertainers?

Maybe a combination of both. Sam is full of beans and has lots of personality and loves dancing and has a good strong body. Eva probably has asthma so may end up in the pool swimming for health reasons.

Both Eva and Sam experienced some serious health problems when Eva was only four weeks old. This must have been a very difficult time for the family. Please tell us what happened.

Sam caught bronchial pneumonia when Eva came home from the hospital and unfortunately Eva picked this up when she was two weeks old. We visited our paediatrician and the Royal Children's Hospital and they all said she would be fine but one day she started struggling to breathe and we had to rush in to the emergency department of the RCH.

Eva spent a week in intensive care before we came home again. Scary time for any mum.

Sam was OK, he almost went into hospital but a change of antibiotics put him on the mend. He is a big strong boy and coped well.

Your children's names have family significance, tell us where they came from.

Sam was easy, we both always loved this name. His second name Albert is after Bert. We didn't really have any girls names the first time which was lucky. Second time, we decided we needed a short name, like Sam, and Eva, which is Patti's sisters name, came quite easily after reading some name books. Her second name is Eunice after my nanna, which is fitting as she has my nan's piercing eyes.

How is Sam finding having a baby sister?

He loves it. He loved Eva from the minute she was born. He pats her, gives her his dummy if she cries, gives her his bottle if she is hungry and loves to help me look after her. He gets her nappies and is so protective of her.

How are Bert and Patti finding grandparent-hood?

They love it even more with two. There wasn't enough of Sam to go round on his own. They live close by and see them every day. Mum calls me every morning to see how they are. Bert loves playing cars with Sam and reading stories to them.

How is your brother Matthew enjoying being an uncle? He must have been delighted to have Eva born so close to his birthday. Do you foresee joint family birthday celebrations in the future?

Matthew is fabulous with kids, he lives in Sydney but sees them often.

Has Matt (Welsh)'s retirement from professional swimming allowed him to spend more time with the kids and play a more active role in their day to day lives?

He retired at just the right time, which has worked out well. he is very hands on and does everything. We share the workload which is great. he has just started a new job with BUPA and has to travel more but it just means the time he spends at home with the kids is more quality time.

How do you juggle being a mum of two young children and the demands of a successful career, particularly in an industry which must entail long and demanding hours and early starts?

It is hard and demanding but the children are my number one priority and will always come before work. It does seem that mums shoulder the major responsibility when it comes to children and putting them first. I am a better and happier mum if I work as well.

What's the best piece of advice you have for mums who work when they have young children?

Do what suits you. If you want to work, then do it and don't feel guilty about it. There isn't one thing that suits everyone.

Mum Zone would like to thank Lauren for taking time out from her busy schedule to talk with us.