Jacinda Ardern opens up about motherhood as she returns to work as PM

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern has opened up about motherhood and returning to work after six weeks of maternity leave. 

Ardern, who is the world's youngest female head of government (and fourth youngest overall) gave birth to baby Neve Te Aroha Ardern Gayford at Auckland City Hospital on June 21. 

To mark her return to the top job, the Office of the Prime Minister of New Zealand released two celebratory portraits of Ardern in her Auckland home with partner Clarke Gayford and daughter Neve Gayford.

On Thursday, the 38-year-old spoke to press at her Sandringham house where she covered everything from mother's guilt, her new bub's digestive system and adjusting to her new sleeping routine. 

"It's disrupted sleep, but still I've always had friends and family saying it's different when it's your own," she told the NZ Herald. "Getting up in the night for your own little one is not as hard."

While the young gun politician officially returned to work on Wednesday at midnight, Ardern admitted she hasn't been completely off-duty and received regular visits from staff with "suitcases" of government papers for her.

Ardern was in good spirits as she revealed her biggest surprise about motherhood so far:

"That a baby can go so long without pooing. There you go. That's the first thing that came to mind," she said, laughing. 

"I did not expect that. Apparently completely normal as well. I guess that's just an indication of what every parent experiences, you go down to being so focused on food, nappies and sleep. That's day in, day out.

"The things I have learned about a baby's digestive system is incredible."

Ardern added that she and her partner were left in hysterics after little Neve waged a 'poonami' on her mother.

"The poonami, as it sounds [was] everything coming at once," the leader said, laughing.

"The nappy was off and it was me who was changing her at the time," she added.

Last week, the popular leader posted a video to her social media accounts announcing her return to work.

"A quick hello as we get ready to come back," the new mum says in the video, which has been viewed almost 200,000 times.

RELATED: NZ Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern thanks the 'wonderful' midwife who delivered baby Neve

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Ardern said that, now she is back in business, she plans to focus on issues that "really matter" to her, including mental health, the environment, trade-related matters and an "employment-related announcement" she says she's particularly proud of.

The politician also took the time to praise all the single parents out there.

"I'm multitasking like every single parent I've ever met, so a big shout-out to all of them,” she said in the video, which has been praised by thousands of viewers.

"Love the multi-tasking. Rock a cradle and run a country. Showing women can be mothers and leaders,” one supporter wrote.

Ardern fell pregnant with her first child just three months after taking office.

She made the announcement on Instagram writing, "I’ll be Prime Minister AND a mum."

RELATED: Jacinda Ardern: Meet the woman set to be New Zealand's new Prime Minister  

Ardern — a whisky loving, small town girl and ex-staffer of New Zealand’s second female Prime Minister Helen Clark — joined the Labour party when she was just 17 years old, was elected to parliament in 2008 and, in February, became the MP for Mount Albert in central Auckland.

She grew up in New Zealand’s north island in the towns of Morrinsville and Murupara. Her father was a police officer and she grew up as a Mormon until she tired of the religion’s homophobia and now considers herself agnostic.

We can't wait to see the next steps Ardern takes in leading her country!