WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern gave birth to a daughter Thursday and posted a photo welcoming the healthy newborn “to our village.”

She is the second elected world leader to give birth while holding office after late Pakistan Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who gave birth to daughter Bakhtawar in 1990. “Feeling very lucky to have a healthy baby girl that arrived at 4.45 pm weighing 3.31 kg (7.3 lb) … We’re all doing really well thanks to the wonderful team at Auckland City Hospital.”

She posted a picture of herself, smiling and holding the baby in a woollen blanket, with her partner, television presenter Clarke Gayford. I think 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’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. “We’re all doing really well thanks to the wonderful team at Auckland City Hospital.”

The charismatic Ardern follows Pakistan’s prime minister Benazir Bhutto in 1990 as the only women in recorded history to give birth while in power, but she downplayed the significance. Another well-wisher on Jacinda was former New Zealand Prime Minister Helen Clark who said in her op-ed in The Guardian: ‘The birth of Jacinda Ardern’s baby is first and foremost a time of great happiness for Jacinda and her partner, Clarke Gayford. “For New Zealand, these events and the way our country has greeted them will be seen as inspirational by all who advocate for gender equality and women’s empowerment,” Clark wrote. This is 21st C(entury) NZ.”

Ardern found out she was pregnant on October 13, just six days before she was propelled into the job when Peters, the leader of the New Zealand First Party, announced he was siding with her Labour Party in post-election negotiations. Since then she and Gayford had posted a photo to social media of Ardern working at her Auckland electorate office

Many will be watching Peters closely, while is acting prime minister - he has already backed away from a hallmark crime and justice policy and revealed he is suing heads of departments of his own government. Ardern has said that she will have six weeks maternity leave before heading back to parliament. Jacinda Ardern and Clarke Gayford announced the birth of their baby daughter, weighing 7lb 3oz, on Instagram on June 21 and said that her name is yet to be picked as the couple are struggling to choose one.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern gives birth to a baby girl at 4:45 pm local time (04:45 UTC). Ardern is the first incumbent head of government to give birth since Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in 1990.