Britney Spears Says She's Pregnant

04/12/2004 at 06:00 PM EDT

Pop star Britney Spears and her husband Kevin Federline are expecting a baby.

"The time has finally come to share our wonderful news that we are expecting our first child together," Spears, 23, said Tuesday in a statement on her Web site, BritneySpears.com. "There are reports that I was in the hospital this weekend, Kevin and I just want everyone to know that all is well. Thank you for your thoughts and prayers."

Spears earlier discussed with PEOPLE her desire to start a family. After she and Federline, 27, were married on Sept. 18, 2004, in a ceremony at a private home in Studio City, Calif. Spears said: "I want to be a young mom. I can see us as parents."

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Just before Thanksgiving last year, Spears posted a letter to fans talking about her desire to take a break from music and focus on motherhood. "I've had a career since I was 16, have traveled around the world & back and even kissed Madonna! The only thing I haven't done so far is experience the closest thing to God and that's having a baby. I can't wait!" she wrote.