Tammy Duckworth becomes first US Senator to give birth while still in office

Colleagues are working to change Senate rules to allow her to vote while on maternity leave

(Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images) Tammy Duckworth lost both legs while serving in Iraq (Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images)

Tammy Duckworth just became the first Senator to give birth while serving in office.

The Illinois Democrat and husband Bryan Bowlsbey welcomed their second child, a daughter, Maile Pearl Bowlsbey into the world on Monday. The couple’s first child, Abigail, was born while Ms Duckworth was serving in the House of Representatives in 2014. She is only one of ten women to give birth while serving in Congress in the history of the US. according to the Office of the Historian and the Clerk of the House's Office of Art and Archives.

Ms Duckworth’s office issued a statement that read: “Parenthood isn’t just a women’s issue, it’s an economic issue and one that affects all parents — men and women alike. As tough as juggling the demands of motherhood and being a Senator can be, I’m hardly alone or unique as a working parent, and my children only make me more committed to doing my job and standing up for hardworking families everywhere”.

Ms Duckworth is an Iraq war veteran, having risen to the ranks of Lieutenant Colonel in the Illinois National Guard before retiring in 2014. The half Thai, half American Congresswoman also had both her legs amputated as a result of a combat injury.

Senator Elizabeth Warren has been a vocal supporter of her colleague and vowed to work to change the Senate rules in order to allow Ms Duckworth to bring the baby to the Senate floor as needed. The current rules prevent members from sponsoring legislation or even voting while out on maternity leave. “I call dibs on holding @tammyduckworth's baby while she's voting – and fighting to change the Senate's dumb rules so I don't have to,” Ms Warren tweeted in February.

The Chicago Sun-Times, which first reported the birth, said that since her first daughter’s birth, Ms Duckworth “has authored measures to make sure major airports offer places for breastfeeding mothers to pump milk; the military creates a uniform policy for giving personnel time to bond with their newborn and adopted babies; and to make sure student parents have on-campus child care. She also is a sponsor or co-sponsor of bills dealing with affordable child care, paid parental leave and other infant and maternal health issues”.

Ms Duckworth's office said she and the baby are doing well. She will be taking 12 weeks leave and staying in Washington to be available for any possible votes.