World
14:58, 21-Jun-2018
New Zealand PM Jacinda Ardern gives birth to a baby girl
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New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern gave birth to her first child, a baby girl weighing 3.31 kilograms, in an Auckland hospital Thursday, making her the second elected leader to ever give birth.
The last time an elected world leader was pregnant in office was in 1990 when Pakistan's Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto had her daughter Bakhtwar.
"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 in a statement on Thursday.
The 37-year-old, who was elected in October, announced in January that she and her partner Clarke Gayford were expecting a baby.
She has now passed on her duties to the Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters, saying she will take six weeks of maternity leave.