Boston Mayor Michelle Wu shared new photos of baby girl Mira on Wednesday, as she and her family welcomed her home from the hospital.
Wu made history — again — when she gave birth to Mira, her third child, on Monday, becoming the first Boston mayor to deliver while in office, and one of only a small handful of female politicians to do so as well.
Wu and baby Mira were discharged from Brigham and Women’s Hospital Tuesday afternoon, which was also Wu’s 40th birthday. Both are in good health, and are now recuperating at home, said a city spokesperson.
Mira was born weighing 8 pounds, 4 ounces, and measuring 20 inches.
Wu shared the new photos on Instagram. In the first, Wu is pictured in the backseat of a car, smiling next to a sleeping baby Mira buckled up in a car seat. Mira is also sleeping in the second photo, a close up of her peaceful face, as she rests wrapped up a blanket.
The third photo shows a smiling Wu holding baby Mira, surrounded by her husband, Conor Pewarski, and their two sons, Blaise and Cass. What appears to be a birthday cake, with two candles, in the shapes of a number four and a number zero, are visible in the foreground.
A caption accompanied the photos, which read, “Came home with Baby Mira yesterday with plenty of time for snuggles all around and treats from Sweet Teez and Sugar bakeries! Best birthday ever,” followed by a double pink heart emoji.
Despite her efforts to make paid parental leave a benefit that’s available to the vast majority of city workers, Wu has said she does not intend to take a formal, extended maternity leave. Instead, with the help of technology, her senior staff, and cabinet chiefs, she will be taking more of a “working leave,” Wu has said previously.
Despite being home from the hospital for less than 24 hours, Wu is apparently not missing a beat.
The mayor unexpectedly called in to GBH’s “Boston Public Radio” on Wednesday, to chime in on a discussion hosts Jim Braude and Margery Eagan were leading on Wu’s decision to not take a formal maternity leave, and the broader implications for working women and parents.
Wu shared that she called in from home while nursing baby Mira, and said they are doing well. It was her first public conversation since she gave birth.
“Mira has been a joy,” Wu said. “She’s a dream, sleeping a lot, eating a lot, and doing everything she’s supposed to do.”
Wu added that she had events planned leading up to her due date, but had to cancel one appearance at noon on Monday when she went into labor. She is in touch with her senior leadership team and has been back to work, “editing press releases or looking at different things that we’re mapping out for the next couple weeks,” Wu said. “The city runs and our services are ones that people rely on, 24 hours a day, 365 days a week, and I weigh in where I can and where I need to.”
She emphasized that she believes it is critical to give working parents the option to take paid parental leave if they want or need to, which is why she’s advocated for the policy in City Hall.
“That all should be normalized, every option, every pathway,” she continued. “For me, I’m doing it my way, doing it how I believe best serves the city. And it’s honestly a joy to do it this way.”
She also joked that while her two sons are “a little bit in shock,” they’re already enamored with their little sister.
“They woke up this morning, ran into the room, each wanted to hold her,” said Wu. “This time is really special.”
Niki Griswold can be reached at niki.griswold@globe.com. Follow her @nikigriswold.