Baby arrives ‘alert, hungry’
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern’s first night as a mum was similar to other new mothers – sleepless.
After giving birth to a daughter at Auckland City Hospital on Thursday, about 4.45pm, Ardern and her baby were moved from the delivery suite to the maternity ward about 8pm.
Her daughter weighed 3.31kg. A spokesperson from the Prime Minister’s Office said she spent a lot of the night feeding the baby. ‘‘A comment from the midwives and the nurses up here ... is: it is one hungry baby. So it is a very alert and very hungry baby.’’
Clarke Gayford spent the night in the room with Ardern and the new baby, with partners encouraged to stay.
Ardern is staying in a ‘‘normal room’’ in the maternity ward, though it is at the end of a corridor so it is slightly more private. FIRST PHOTO
Ardern and Gayford’s baby made her public debut in a photo, right, shared online on Thursday. The baby was wearing a hat knitted by a supporter and a shawl knitted by Gayford’s mother. The baby was yesterday wrapped in a blanket which was a gift from Ngai Tahu.
Ardern managed a bite to eat after the birth. ‘‘The prime minister’s first meal last night was marmite on toast and a cup of milo,’’ a spokesperson said. Passing up vegemite was a ‘‘controversial decision’’.
He would not make any specific comments about how the birth went but said ‘‘everyone is really good’’.
‘‘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. Thank you,’’ Ardern said at the time.
The baby was one of 24 born on Thursday at the hospital.
On average, new mums stay in hospital two to three days and Ardern was expected to stay at least one more night.
The prime minister’s office confirmed Ardern received a private congratulatory message from the Queen.
Google added a tribute on its homepage with a graphic reinterpreting the fish-hooks used by the couple to announce the impending birth. Many world leaders sent messages of congratulation, including former prime minister Helen Clark.