Jamie Lynn Spears expecting second child

Singer/actress Jamie Lynn Spears has extra reason to celebrate this Christmas - she is pregnant with her second child.

Britney Spears' younger sister is expecting a sibling for her nine-year-old daughter Maddie, from her previous relationship with her ex-boyfriend Casey Aldridge.

The baby will be her first with husband Jamie Watson, who she wed in 2014.

"Looks like we are starting off 2018 with another big milestone... sooo (sic) happy to announce that Maddie is FINALLY going to be a big sister," the 26-year-old wrote beside a family photo, posted on Instagram on Sunday (24Dec17).

Jamie Lynn went on to reflect on the past 12 months, during which she almost lost young Maddie after she was involved in a scary accident on her all-terrain vehicle (ATV).

"2017 was filled with some of the biggest challenges of my life, as well as some of the biggest blessings, so I made a choice to lay low this year to focus on truly becoming my best self as a person and as an artist," she continued.

"During that time, I continued working on my music and telling my story, which has created some of my most honest work and I (CAN'T) wait to share that with you all very soon. 2018 is going to be filled with many milestones both personally and professionally."

"I appreciate each of you for your patience and support through (it) all," she added. "2018 has a lot coming, so GET READY........"

Jamie Lynn's Christmas Eve announcement comes just days after she expressed her thanks to the doctors and nurses who saved Maddie's life in February (17).

The child had been enjoying a ride around the family's estate in Louisiana and landed in a pond, where she lost consciousness. She spent two days in a coma, but suffered no signs of neurological damage, and was released from medical care to rest at home.

The new mother-to-be recalled the life-or-death emergency in an emotional Instagram post on 18 December (17), when she captioned a photo of Maddie with two of her first responders: "The hardest milestone me and my family have ever faced was almost losing our beautiful Maddie. But thanks to God and the two angels in this picture we were able to celebrate Maddie turning 9 years old all together. This milestone became a true miracle, and we are forever grateful for that."

Jamie Lynn invited some of the medics who had tended to her little girl to their home to mark Maddie's birthday in June.