BEIJING, Sep. 15 -- Pop singer Britney Spears gave birth to a baby boy at a Los Angeles hospital Wednesday afternoon, US Weekly magazine reported on its website.

    The magazine said Spears was taken to the hospital early on Wednesday morning local time with a police escort and accompanied by her husband, dancer Kevin Federline. The 23-year-old entertainer gave birth by Caesarean section to avoid the pain of a natural birth.

    In the October issue of Elle magazine, Spears said she looked forward to motherhood, saying, ''I'm gonna be a hot mom."

    The couple has not yet legally named the child, but Us Weekly reported that they had planned to name the child Preston Michael Spears Federline.

    It is the first child for Britney and her husband Kevin Federline.

    Federline, 27, has two children with his ex-girlfriend, actress Shar Jackson, who was pregnant with his son when he met Spears last year, while working as a back-up dancer for her tour.

    (Agencies)