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Boston Mayor Michelle Wu speaks out about balancing work and motherhood, shares new baby photos
Wu, who is not planning to take any time off, responded to comments about her decision on a Boston radio show.
Boston Mayor Michelle Wu shared new photos of her baby born earlier this week, and spoke publicly about her decision not to take a formal maternity leave.
At 2 p.m. on Monday, Wu gave birth to her third child, Mira Wu Pewarski, who arrived at 8 pounds, 4 ounces, and 20 inches — the day before Wu’s 40th birthday and two days before her due date.
On Wednesday, Wu shared photos of baby Mira on social media.
“Came home with Baby Mira yesterday with plenty of time for snuggles all around,” Wu captioned the photos. “Best birthday ever.”
Came home yesterday with plenty of time for baby snuggles all around + treats from Sweet Teez & Sugar bakeries! Best birthday ever 💕
— Michelle Wu 吳弭 (@wutrain.bsky.social) January 15, 2025 at 8:29 AM
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Wu gave birth to Mira and her other two children, Blaise and Cass, at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Wu and Mira are both in good health, according to the mayor’s office.
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“Mayor Wu wishes to express her deepest gratitude to the nurses, doctors, and healthcare staff who made this possible for her family and who work every day to support so many families across the city,” Wu’s office said.
While Wu has said she does not plan to take a formal maternity leave, the Boston mayor has worked to ensure that paid parental leave is available for city workers. While serving on the Boston City Council, Wu filed an ordinance to create Boston’s first-ever parental paid leave policy.
Wu, who has given birth three times now while holding political office, is among a group of mayors across the country who have delivered babies during their mayoral term.
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“Mayor Wu continues to be in contact with her team while she recovers from giving birth and her family settles in with their newest addition,” a city spokesperson told Boston.com. “She is not taking time off but is following guidance from her doctors for her physical health and coordinating closely with her staff.”
However, Wu said she will be working from home more frequently, according to State House News Service. In preparation of Mira’s birth, Wu postponed her 2025 State of the City address — usually given in January — to March.
Wu, who reportedly worked all morning before giving birth on Monday afternoon, expressed her frustration with comments made about how she is balancing work and motherhood.
“To all saying they’re sorry I’m being forced to prove myself or mad I’m a bad example/enabling a bs system: Appreciate the good intentions, but once again—let every woman make decisions for her own body & family,” she wrote on Bluesky.
Wu continued: “Serving in elected office is a unique responsibility: anyone can apply for the job, but once elected, no one else can fully substitute for the person whose name was on the ballot,” she said. “For the last 10+ years serving the City, doing my best job has meant blending my roles as mom & elected [official] in a way that works for my family.”
Catching up with a few thoughts on everyone else’s thoughts on how I (& presumably all women) should behave re: work/family 🧵 Overall- important & meaningful to see the range of takes here reflecting so many personal, hard decisions made in a system that so often blocks balance & choice.
— Michelle Wu 吳弭 (@wutrain.bsky.social) January 16, 2025 at 12:33 AM
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As Wu sat in her living room nursing baby Mira on Wednesday, she made an unexpected call to GBH’s “Boston Public Radio.” The mother of three spoke about the comments she has received and her choice to remain working.
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“I hear everyone is telling me what to do around here,” she said on the show, to laughter from hosts Jim Braude and Margery Eagan.
Wu said her two boys are a “little bit in shock, but adjusting well.”
“Mira’s been a joy,” Wu said. “She’s a dream.”
Wu said she believes taking parental leave should be “normalized.”
“It’s really important that whatever anyone’s individual decision is, there is a paid leave option for every single person,” Wu said. “For me, I’m doing it my way, and doing it how I believe best serves the City.”
“I hear everyone is telling me what to do,” said Mayor Michelle Wu on our show earlier today.
— Boston Public Radio (@BosPublicRadio) January 15, 2025
We asked listeners how they felt about her decision not to take maternity leave and she surprised us by calling in herself! pic.twitter.com/qcakrDjuiU
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