In New Zealand it can happen that you go to give birth on a bicycle and it can happen that the announcement is given via the internet immediately afterwards. The protagonist is the New Zealand green parliamentarian Julie Anne Genter, who yesterday wrote via social media: “I had a baby girl and I went to the hospital by bicycle to give birth to her”. With extreme naturalness. Helmet on her head and leggings, accompanied by her husband, she decided to arrive in the delivery room like this. Complete with selfies before lying down on the bed. “The contractions weren’t that strong at two in the morning, she explained herself in a Facebook post- And so we thought it might be a good idea.” During the ride – Genter’s home is just a few kilometers from the hospital in Wellington – Labor has begun An hour later it was all over and husband Peter was sleeping peacefully with his daughter on his chest while she enjoyed taking pictures.
Who is Julie Anne Genter
Julie Anne Genter, 41, of US nationality, is a fervent advocate of sustainable mobility and cycling in general, as can also be seen from his Twitter profile. But not only. She has been Minister of Equal Opportunities and has worked on the transport sector since her arrival in New Zealand in 2006. During the ride – Genter’s home is just a few miles from Wellington hospital – labor began. An hour later it was all over and her husband Peter was sleeping peacefully with his daughter on his chest while she enjoyed taking pictures.
The echo in the international press
The news was obviously picked up by the international and local press and congratulations from all over the world came to the mother. His hardcore fans enjoyed remembering that it wasn’t the first time Genter had used his bicycle to go and give birth to a child. It had already happened in 2018. After announcing the pregnancy that came after a series of spontaneous abortions as she herself had told, even on that occasion the then minister chose two wheels.
New Zealand and equal opportunities
On equal opportunities, New Zealand has always been at the forefront. Meanwhile, it was the first country to recognize the right to vote for women in 1893. Then, in 1970, she had the first MP to give birth in office, the first to breastfeed at work in 1983. In June 2018, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is became the second world leader to give birth in office. Since then, there have been several cases of female MPs taking their babies with them to work and some of them have chosen to breastfeed them in public., without the behavior causing particular controversy. A very different situation from Great Britain where last week the opposition Labor MP Stella Creasy who went to the House of Commons with her three-month-old son but was told that Westminister doesn’t have children.
Source-tg24.sky.it