The birth of baby Leo Blair is a significant boost to would-be mothers.
Of particular note is Cherie Blair's age and her decision to opt for a natural birth despite a previous Caesarean section.
The fact that she returned home so quickly after the birth is also significant.
At 45, Cherie Blair will have faced the major fear of the older expectant mother, which is the increased risk of having a child with Down's Syndrome. That risk rises from 1 in 1,000 for a woman in her early 30s to 1 in 25 at the age of 45.
Older mothers and fathers do have certain advantages. They may feel more settled in themselves and are often better able to cope with the financial and emotional demands of parenthood. The Blairs can also look forward to the support of their older children in looking after Leo.
In opting not to have another Caesarean section, Mrs Blair elected to face the small risk that the previous Caesarean scar in the womb could rupture during childbirth. Whether the publicised success of natural childbirth in these circumstances will help to stem the rising UK Caesarean rate remains to be seen.
Of course, if Mrs Blair had opted for a Caesarean section, she could not have returned home so promptly after the birth. This decision too, will be welcomed by those campaigning for a more natural childbirth policy.
By returning home within three hours of Leo's birth, Cherie Blair is sending a strong message to women to avail of the safe environment of a hospital labour ward for the minimum period necessary.