As any expectant parent can tell you, a slip of the tongue can set the cat among the pigeons.
A tweet from Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's partner Clarke Gayford on "almost having a baby" had people wondering whether the couple had a false alarm.
Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern speaking in Parliament on 17 May. Photo: VNP / Daniela Maoate-Cox
Clark Gayford tweeted that his mother had set new records in returning missed calls from him, referring to "almost having a baby".
Protip: Get your mum to set new records in returning missed calls from you by almost having a baby.
— Clarke Gayford (@NZClarke) June 5, 2018
Better living everybody.
Some clearly took this as a sign of a last minute flurry:
Grandma start your engine!
— Elizabeth Knox (@ElizabethKnoxNZ) June 5, 2018
Need a grab and go bag. Similar to an earthquake grab bag #eqnz #firstchildNZ
— Corey Hebberd (@chebberd) June 5, 2018
Classic - hang in there C and have you bag, phone etc ready to go
— Michael Frawley (@FrawleyMotat) June 5, 2018
Others chipped in with advice and good wishes as the due date approaches.
Grandparent babysitter in waiting. Exciting time e hoa
— Bruce Hopkins (@BruceHop) June 5, 2018
Good luck buddy! You’re going to be a great dad! And if it gets too much, well there’s a few million of us that can help. Crowdsource advice from Twitter. pic.twitter.com/kEdMIMIGgW
— Richard Hills (@richardhills777) June 5, 2018
The prime minister has already said she will work up until she goes into labour.
The baby is due on 17 June.
Last week Ms Ardern was asked when she intended to slow down, but she said it was "all manageable".
She said she was at the point where the birth could happen any day.
"That's just a statement of fact... I haven't got any particular reason to know that or believe it, I'm just at the stage where it could," Ms Ardern said.
Ms Ardern's office yesterday gave details of the formal political process.
She will hand over to deputy Winston Peters once she arrives at hospital to give birth, her office said.
If she is in Auckland Ms Ardern will go to Auckland City Hospital, but there are contingency plans if she is elsewhere.
Parliament resumes sitting next week for a four-week session.
