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Jacinda Ardern’s rough first night with ‘one hungry baby’

Jacinda Ardern has shared a new photograph of her brand-new daughter, despite apparently having a rough first night as a mum.

The New Zealand Prime Minister, who gave birth to her daughter on Thursday, posted to Instagram a photo of herself, her baby and the family’s “wonderful midwife Libby”.

“Not only is she incredible at what she does, this morning she made me macaroni and cheese because she heard me mention a wee craving yesterday,” she wrote. “Thank you so much for everything Libby!”

The macaroni and cheese might well have been appreciated. After the birth on Thursday afternoon, Ms Ardern had a simple dinner of Marmite toast and Milo, before apparently getting little sleep overnight. Nurses told The New Zealand Herald that the new little girl – who weighed 3.31 kilograms – is “very alert and one hungry baby”.

The couple’s planned Friday media appearance was cancelled as a result. Instead, the family – including first dad Clarke Gayford – spent most of the day privately.

The yet-to-be-named baby girl was born on Thursday afternoon, weighing 3.31 kilograms.

Speculation is soon likely turn to baby names, with no clues provided as yet. In January, Ms Ardern said she expected the baby’s surname would be Gayford.

“I’ll probably try sneak in my name somehow,” she said at the time.

However, in recent weeks she’s said the picking process was going “terribly”.

Shortly after the birth, Ms Ardern shared a photo of her and Mr Gayford with their daughter on Instagram. She captioned the image: “Welcome to our village wee one.”

The PM will remain in hospital for a second night. No further public events are yet planned, although the trio are expected to briefly address the media when they leave hospital for home.

Meanwhile, good wishes have flooded in from around the world. Among them was a private message from the Queen, who Ms Ardern met in Britain earlier this year.

Google posted an image in the shape of a heart on its New Zealand homepage along with the message “Congratulations!”.

There were also messages from Australian politicians, including Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, and international leaders.

“It’s really exciting. I’m so happy for Jacinda and Clarke. I’ve sent her a message already … really thrilled,” Mr Turnbull said.

British Prime Minister Theresa May also chimed in with her best wishes.

“Congratulations to Jacinda Ardern and Clark Gayford on the birth of your little girl,” Ms May said.

Former New Zealand prime minister and senior United Nations official Helen Clark said Ms Ardern continued to inspire women.

“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,” Ms Clark said.

Ms Ardern’s father Ross Ardern and mother Laurell will be among the first to meet the addition, who is their third grandchild. Mr Ardern told Radio New Zealand he and his wife were “very proud”.

“We’re a family that are fairly well grounded and to see this on the international media is absolutely different – I can say that without a shadow of a doubt,” he said.

“But this is news that Jacinda wanted to share with New Zealand, and for it to be part of New Zealand, and I think her and Clarke have managed to do just that.”

Ms Ardern is only the second elected leader in modern history − after Pakistan’s Benazhir Bhutto in 1990 − to give birth while in office. By co-incidence, her daughter shares a birthday with Ms Bhutto.

Ms Ardern will take six weeks maternity leave. She has passed the duties of running the country to Deputy Prime Minister Winston Peters − though she will be kept informed of major developments.

-with agencies

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