NZ PM’S baby girl
PM Jacinda Ardern is just the second world leader to give birth in office
It was a special moment for women everywhere when New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern and her partner Clarke Gayford proudly introduced their baby girl, Neve Te Aroha Ardern Gayford, to their country last week.
The jubilant parents, who admitted feeling a little sleepdeprived, posed for photos and fielded questions as they showed off Neve – whose name means “bright” or “radiant”– to waiting media at Auckland Hospital.
It was a grey, bitingly cold morning in Auckland when Clarke drove Jacinda to hospital to give birth to their first child.
The pair arrived at 5.50am on June 21, a drizzly winter solstice, the shortest day of the year. Just under 11 hours later, the NZ PM warmed the nation’s hearts by delivering a baby daughter.
DEMOCRACY & DUMMIES
Jacinda, 37, has made global headlines by becoming only the second elected world leader in modern history to give birth while in office, but in typical down-to-earth fashion, she announced the news by sharing a sweet snap of the First Family on Instagram, with Neve wearing a hat knitted by a supporter and wrapped in a shawl knitted by Clarke’s mum.
“Welcome to our village, wee one,” the new mum posted. “Feeling very lucky to have a healthy baby girl that arrived at 4.45pm, weighing 3.31kg (7.3lb). Thank you so much for your best wishes and your kindness.
“We’re all doing really well thanks to the wonderful team at Auckland City Hospital.”
Clarke, 40, wrote on social
‘I am not the first woman to multitask’
media, “So happy to announce our little girl has finally arrived! Everyone healthy and happy.” In a press release, Jacinda added, “I’m sure we’re going through all of the emotions new parents go through, but at the same time feeling so grateful for all the kindness and best wishes from so many people.”
After moving from the delivery suite, they spent their first night as a family in a normal room on the maternity ward on the public hospital’s 10th floor. The next morning, a press secretary revealed, “After her efforts, the PM had a dinner of Marmite toast and Milo.” She added, “Everyone is really well, if not a bit tired. In fact, the PM has just woken after what sounded like a pretty brief sleep.”
SURPRISE NEWS!
Jacinda, who will be on maternity leave for six weeks, discovered she was pregnant six days before being sworn in as NZ’S 40th PM in October, and announced her news three months later, revealing she’d suffered morning sickness while forming her Government.
Jacinda wrote on Instagram, “And we thought 2017 was a big year! Clarke and I are really excited that in June our team will expand from two to three and that we’ll be joining the many parents out there who wear two hats. I’ll be Prime Minister and a mum, and Clarke will be ‘first man of fishing’ and stay-at-home dad.
“It’s fair to say that this will be a wee one that a village will raise, but we couldn’t be more excited. I know there will be lots of questions and we’ll answer all of them. I can assure you we have a plan all ready to go! But for now, bring on 2018.”
Clarke told Woman’s Day at the time, “We had no idea, but we’d been planning a family well before she became a leader. We’ve been together for four years and we obviously bought a house together, so we had that conversation when we realised things were serious. The timing is accidental.” At a press conference on their front lawn, Jacinda said, “It’s a happy surprise, but a surprise nonetheless.” NZ’S third female PM went on to reveal the pair had tried IVF, but in the end their child was conceived naturally. “We wanted a family but weren’t sure it would happen for us, which has made this news unexpected but exciting... We are very lucky and privileged that we’re in a position where we’ll be juggling the care roles. I am not the first woman to multitask. I’m not the first woman to have a baby. I know these are special circumstances, but there are so many women who have done this. “I’m about to sympathise with them a lot, as I sympathise with all women who suffered morning sickness. But we’re excited and we know together we’re going to make this work, and New Zealand is going to help us raise a first child.” Last week, after the birth of their beautiful Neve, Jacinda said she wants nothing but “happiness and love” for her little girl. The PM also thanked members of the public who’d sent in gifts, and revealed she’ll pass them on to other families once their little girl has outgrown them.