Britney Spears Gives Birth To A Baby Boy

The news, which began circulating Wednesday afternoon, was confirmed by a posting on the singer's Web site early Thursday morning (September 15) that said, "It's a boy!

"We are ecstatic to announce the birth of our son," read the posting, which was signed by both Spears and her husband, Kevin Federline. "Everyone is happy, healthy and doing wonderful. Thank you all for your love and well wishes!"

Us Weekly had trumpeted the news on Wednesday, citing unidentified sources at UCLA Medical Center in Santa Monica, California, claiming that the singer arrived at the hospital with a police escort shortly before 6 a.m. that day, and was wheeled into delivery just after noon, delivering her son via Caesarean section. (The National Enquirer had reported earlier that day that Spears had gone into labor, but had no further details by the time Us Weekly broke the news.) The media coverage was raised to a fever pitch as several outlets jumped on the story, citing Us Weekly, but it wasn't until Thursday morning, when Spears' site and People magazine carried the statement, that it was official. People also reported that Federline was in the delivery room with Spears.

In the October issue of Elle magazine, Spears said she'd prefer to have a C-section, and if that wasn't an option, "I'll be like, 'Epidural, please!' ... I don't want to go through the pain."

Spears announced that she was pregnant in mid-April, posting on her Web site that the time had come "to share our wonderful news that we are expecting our first child together". The singer kept her due date under wraps, though her sister, Jamie Lynn, let it slip on her own Web site that it would be in September. After that, her reps alluded to a September date, though they didn't specify exactly when she was due.

Spears' representatives had no comment at press time.

A name has yet to be announced for Spears' first and Federline's third child. Federline already has two children with former girlfriend Shar Jackson: 2-year-old Kori and 1-year-old Kaleb.

- Jennifer Vineyard, MTV News

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You can send your best wishes to Britney and Kevin on their newborn son at Britney Spears's Official Site.