New Zealand PM Will Soon Give Birth. That's a Big Deal.

Jacinda Ardem is the first pregnant world leader since 1990
By Newser Editors and Wire Services
Posted Jun 20, 2018 7:30 PM CDT
New Zealand's PM Arrives at Hospital to Give Birth
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, right, addresses Parliament in Wellington   (AP Photo/Nick Perry)

Jacinda Ardern has arrived to a New Zealand hospital to give birth to her first child. As CNN notes, the 37-year-old prime minister is due to become the first world leader to give birth since 1990, when Pakistan's then Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto had a baby daughter while in office. Elected just last October, Ardern announced her big news early this year. Among those offering congratulations was Prime Minister Bhutto's daughter. "Congratulations to Prime Minister @jacindaardern on the wonderful news," Bakhtawar B-Zardari tweeted in January. Ardern's will be just the second child ever born to a sitting female prime minister. She's taken six weeks of leave from work, during which Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters has taken the reins as acting prime minister.

Per AP, Ardern's due date was June 17. The birth has been highly anticipated in the South Pacific nation of nearly 5 million people. She has not said whether she's expecting a boy or a girl. Ardern's office confirmed she had arrived at the hospital with partner Clarke Gayford. Ardern has said she is confident the government will continue to run smoothly in her absence. She said she hoped to be "sharing the good news" in an announcement but also to have some quiet time to enjoy as a family. The couple has not indicated if they are having a girl or a boy. Asked earlier this month how the couple had been faring while trying to choose a name, Ardern responded: "Terribly. Do you have any suggestions?" (More Jacinda Ardern stories.)

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