Baby Watch

WHERE IT STARTED: When Fergie showed up for the Grammy's last February, it seemed she had the telltale bump. There were, however, mixed signals, since The Black Eyed Peas were about to start a U.S. and European tour -- never a good idea when you're expecting a baby.

HOW IT SPREAD: It's no secret -- Fergie and 'Las Vegas' star Josh Duhamel are an item. So, when Star Magazine reported that the singer was 8 weeks pregnant as of April 17, the rumor spread like wildfire. By the way, Star Mag also reported a while back that Fergie and Josh had just gotten engaged.

THE TMZ LOWDOWN: We went right to the source, or close enough. TMZ got in touch with Fergie's sister last Friday. Lil' sis did not mince words -- 100% NOT pregnant. She also said that Fergie and Josh "are very much in love" but there is definitely no ring in the picture, at least not yet.

David Letterman had a surprise guest on his show Tuesday... a guest who dropped a bombshell!

Britney Spears made an unexpected appearance on 'The Late Show' and confirmed to the world what has been rumored for months that yes, she is in fact pregnant with her second child.

Both Britney's publicist and a source for 'The Late Show' confirmed the story.

HOW IT SPREAD: Star reported that the alleged boyfriend is Larry Birkhead, a freelance entertainment reporter/photographer. Birkhead declined to comment to Star. The day after the story broke, the New York Daily News picked up the rumor with a new spin -- that Birkhead himself was "boasting of impending fatherhood."
The Daily News was even more specific, reporting that Smith was five months pregnant.

THE TMZ LOWDOWN: Birkhead changed his response from an initial no comment to a denial. So, was Birkhead asked to change his response? Birkhead would not go further with TMZ than to deny the pregnancy rumors, but here's where the plot thickens. A source connected with Anna Nicole scoffs at the notion that Birkhead impregnated her, though the source would not confirm if she is indeed pregnant.

But another source insists Smith and Birkhead were having an intimate relationship. So why the effort to distance Smith from Birkhead, even though the two have had a relationship? It makes rumors of a pregnancy more credible.

THE RUMOR: Is Anna Nicole Smith pregnant?

Anna Nicole may be straying from TrimSpa. But not because of too many mashed potatoes. The buzz is -- Anna's gonna have a kid.

TMZ asks, is Anna pregnant and who's the daddy?

THE RUMOR: Is Lindsay Lohan out for revenge against Jessica Simpson by going after Nick?

Lindsay and Jessica are at war, at least according to reports. Could it be that Lindsay is plunging the knife in Jessica's back by setting her sight on Nick Lachey?

TMZ has the lowdown on the feud.

THE RUMOR: Are Fergie (Black Eyed Pea) and Josh Duhamel expecting a baby?

So what's the deal with what could be a telltale "bump." Take a look and judge for yourself.

TMZ investigates, is Fergie prego?

Recent Rumors

Week of April 23 - 29, 2006:
Brad and Angelina will wed in Namibia.

Week of April 16 - 22, 2006:
Lindsay Lohan and Jessica Simpson at war; Britney quitting singing; Charlie Sheen dating online.

Week of April 9 - 15, 2006:
Julia Roberts and George Clooney in a feud; Jennifer Aniston quitting L.A. and moving to Chicago; Matthew McConaughey and Penelope Cruz say adios.

Is Anna Nicole Smith expecting? Is Lindsay out for blood? Does Fergie have a pea-in-the-pod with Josh Duhamel?

TMZ investigates Hollywood's Hottest Rumors.

THE RUMOR: Is Anna Nicole Smith pregnant?

THE RUMOR: Is Lindsay Lohan out for revenge against Jessica Simpson by going after Nick?

Gwen Stefani and hubby Gavin Rossdale went furniture shopping at Sonrisa on Beverly Blvd. in Los Angeles last week. Gwen, looking very pregnant, sat down for a little bit while Gavin browsed around.

Katie and Brooke both had babies on the same day, and both are in the battle to lose the post-natal bulge. But who will get in-shape first?

Brooke is looking pretty good, but Katie has hired the service of Buff Brides to get in-shape for her impending wedding to Tom Cruise.

Related links

• Exclusive: Katie Holmes' Wedding Dress

The bidding war for pictures of Hollywood's biggest stars' babies has begun, and sources tell TMZ the pics for Brangelina's baby joy are reportedly worth more than TomKat's.

Photo agencies tell TMZ that photos of little Suri Cruise are commanding a hefty $500,000 to $1 million each. And if the tabloids get into a bidding war... the pictures could sell for up to $3 million. Starting bids for photos of Baby Jolie-Pitt are double that- between $1 and $2 million.... and could go for over $4 million!

Agents don't like to learn things about their celeb clients from the tabloids, and they especially don't like to find out that their biggest client -- whom they've been selling all over town for feature film roles -- is pregnant.

"Frustration" is a word being used around the offices of William Morris, the agency that reps Britney Spears. "It came as a shock," said one insider.

Kevin Federline avoided answering questions about Britney Spears' alleged pregnancy on LA's Power 106 radio this morning.

When pressed further if the rumors were true, all K-Fed would say was he "wouldn't bet" on it.

The budding rapper did say he spends his days recording music in his home studio and confirmed that Britney was working on a new album as well.

Britney Spears is four months pregnant, Us Weekly reports in this week's issue.

Sources tell the mag that Britney is "100 percent pregnant" and due "Oct. 2 or 3."

The mag goes on to say that Britney "cried her eyeballs out" when a doctor confirmed the pregnancy in February.

THE RUMOR: Brad and Angelina will wed in Namibia.

WHERE IT STARTED: The wedding talk surfaced in early April, when Brad and Angelina uprooted their family to set up camp across the globe in Namibia. Angie, already well into her third trimester of pregnancy, will likely give birth in the African country. The word is that the couple wanted to minimize paparazzi intrusion for the birth. The fact is they could also marginalize the photographers by marrying there

Tom Cruise was able to pull away from his fiance?nd newborn daughter to jet to Rome to talk about his new movie, 'Mission: Impossible III.' Cruise popped in on the rest of the 'M:I:3' cast at the press conference for the film.

Brooke Shields has beaten Tom Cruise to birth. Brooke had a girl, Grier Hammond, just hours before Tom Cruise's fiancee, Katie Holmes, spawned her own baby girl, Suri.

Both sets of mothers and daughters are said to be doing well.

Last year Brooke and Tom, who co-starred together in the 1981 film 'Endless Love,' traded barbs in the media over Shields' use of psychiatric drugs while suffering from post-partum depression. Cruise, a staunch critic of psychiatry, believes the ailment can be treated through exercise and vitamins.

Shields' daughter weighed in at 7 pounds even, measuring 20 inches. Holmes' little bundle of joy weighed in at 7 pounds, 7 ounces and also measured 20 inches long.

Grier Hammond is the second child for Shields and hubby Chris Henchy. The couple's other daughter, Rowan, turns 3 next month.

Suri is the first child for Tom and Katie. Tom has two children: Isabella, 13, and Connor, 11.

UPDATE: 11:05PM ET -- TMZ cameras were outside Tom and Katie's home in Beverly Hills. We caught paparazzi milling around the grounds and cars going in and out. Word is the black Excursion in the video going into Tom's home is his. We spotted that same Excursion leaving the Church of Scientology Celebrity Centre shortly before that.

Recent Katie and Tom sightings

Scientologist Anne Archer is setting the record straight about so-called "silent birth." Archer, who has been a Scientologist for nearly 30 years and had a child before and after joining the church, says her pregnancy "was much smoother" the second time.

"We did try to keep as quiet as possible," Archer told 'EXTRA.' "We weren't completely successful, but we did the best we could!"

Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt have jetted off with their two adopted children to Namibia as her due date nears. The couple reportedly plans to stay in Africa for the birth of their child to minimize the danger of out-of-control paparazzi. But Africa could pose an even more serious danger -- namely, malaria.

TMZ contacted Passport Health for their take on pregnant women traveling to Namibia and giving birth there. Carol DeRosa, the Executive Director and head nurse, said, "I would not recommend it. No one would."

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is on record discouraging pregnant women from traveling to areas where malaria is prevalent, adding that malaria is a "major risk." Malaria causes high fevers, shaking chills, and rigors that can cause premature birth, miscarriage, and stillbirth.