Sen. Tammy Duckworth has given birth to a baby girl, making her the first U.S. senator to give birth while in office.
The Illinois Democrat announced she delivered her second daughter, Maile Pearl Bowlsbey, on Monday. Her office says Duckworth is recovering well and asked for privacy.
Duckworth, a 50-year-old veteran who lost her legs in the Iraq War, is one of only 10 lawmakers who have given birth while in Congress. Her first daughter, Abigail, was born in 2014.
“Bryan, Abigail and I couldn’t be happier to welcome little Maile Pearl as the newest addition to our family and we’re deeply honored that our good friend Senator Akaka was able to bless her name for us - his help in naming both of our daughters means he will always be with us," Duckworth said in a statement.
Duckworth says Maile is named after her husband's great aunt, who was an Army officer and nurse in World War II.
She says she's grateful to friends and family and "our wonderful medical teams for everything they've done to help us in our decades-long journey to complete our family."
