Jacinda Ardern

The breastfeeding didn't come easy. Yeah, it didn't. And I think I had this idea in my head that eventually it's just meant to work. But it wasn't like that. And I think it's not like that for a lot of women. And one of the reasons I wanted to write about it was to just demonstrate that, you know, out there in the images that we present sometimes, it may have looked like I was Wonder Woman.

It may have. But I would hate that to be the sentiment because, yes, I was doing a lot and I was caring a lot, but I had a support network. I had a village. I had an incredible partner who traveled. Now a husband who traveled with me, who was our primary caregiver. And if anything, I'd like to put the spotlight on that because I don't think we should have an expectation that women do everything.

It may have. But I would hate that to be the sentiment because, yes, I was doing a lot and I was caring a lot, but I had a support network. I had a village. I had an incredible partner who traveled. Now a husband who traveled with me, who was our primary caregiver. And if anything, I'd like to put the spotlight on that because I don't think we should have an expectation that women do everything.

It may have. But I would hate that to be the sentiment because, yes, I was doing a lot and I was caring a lot, but I had a support network. I had a village. I had an incredible partner who traveled. Now a husband who traveled with me, who was our primary caregiver. And if anything, I'd like to put the spotlight on that because I don't think we should have an expectation that women do everything.

Right.

Right.

Right.

And I think this is part of the reason, yeah, that you want to do it all and not be seen to break a sweat because, you know, I was at that time only the second child. leader in the world to give birth in office. And so I felt a certain amount of pressure to make sure that no one could question that it impaired my ability to do the job. Because what would that then say to anyone else?

And I think this is part of the reason, yeah, that you want to do it all and not be seen to break a sweat because, you know, I was at that time only the second child. leader in the world to give birth in office. And so I felt a certain amount of pressure to make sure that no one could question that it impaired my ability to do the job. Because what would that then say to anyone else?

And I think this is part of the reason, yeah, that you want to do it all and not be seen to break a sweat because, you know, I was at that time only the second child. leader in the world to give birth in office. And so I felt a certain amount of pressure to make sure that no one could question that it impaired my ability to do the job. Because what would that then say to anyone else?

You know, another leader, another politician. So you've got to prove that I can do this no matter what. Yeah. So hide the morning sickness.

You know, another leader, another politician. So you've got to prove that I can do this no matter what. Yeah. So hide the morning sickness.

You know, another leader, another politician. So you've got to prove that I can do this no matter what. Yeah. So hide the morning sickness.

Hide the fact you can't quite walk straight after birth. Just make it look like it is entirely possible to do all of those things. And with the right support, you can. But it does require support.

Hide the fact you can't quite walk straight after birth. Just make it look like it is entirely possible to do all of those things. And with the right support, you can. But it does require support.

Hide the fact you can't quite walk straight after birth. Just make it look like it is entirely possible to do all of those things. And with the right support, you can. But it does require support.

And I don't particularly remember thinking about the magnitude of that moment. You know, for me, it was just pure logistics. Niamh was four months old. I was still breastfeeding. She had to come with me. And actually, the moment when she was photographed, I mean, you can tell that we're not aware we're being photographed. That is one of the more presentable photos of me.

And I don't particularly remember thinking about the magnitude of that moment. You know, for me, it was just pure logistics. Niamh was four months old. I was still breastfeeding. She had to come with me. And actually, the moment when she was photographed, I mean, you can tell that we're not aware we're being photographed. That is one of the more presentable photos of me.

And I don't particularly remember thinking about the magnitude of that moment. You know, for me, it was just pure logistics. Niamh was four months old. I was still breastfeeding. She had to come with me. And actually, the moment when she was photographed, I mean, you can tell that we're not aware we're being photographed. That is one of the more presentable photos of me.

Because we're in the floor. It was at an event to mark the legacy of Nelson Mandela. And so the entire floor was not full at that time. And so the press you couldn't see. I could just hear the clicking. Click, click, click, click, click, click. I did not think they were aimed on us. And so, again, I think it was just a moment where you were getting on with what was required and then afterwards...