Fluff: Shakira poses for a pregnant photoshoot.

1. Shakira is the latest celebrity to star in a maternity photoshoot. The Colombian singer and future judge of The Voice US has shared the images on her social media accounts, adding, “We’d like to celebrate the imminent birth of our first child with all of you.” Unlike the slew of stars who have posed naked in recent months, 35-year-old Shakira accessorised her bump a tad more sensibly, with a bikini top and loose-fitting pants.

The baby boy, due to arrive at the end of the month, will be the first child of Shakira and her partner, Spanish footballer Gerard Piqué.

As part of UNICEF’s Inspired Gifts program, the couple are hosting a ‘virtual baby shower’, asking fans to purchase items ranging from mosquito nets to polio vaccines for children in need – rather than sending gifts for their future son.

“We hope that, in his name, other less privileged children in the world can have their basic needs covered through gifts and donations,” the couple said.

Take a look at the photos and other pregnant celebrity photo shoots in this gallery.

2. We’re cringing but we can’t look away. Forget Gangnam Style, these hospital staff are doing it “gyne style” in the delivery room [click to watch].

3. Sir Elton John and partner David Furnish have welcomed their second baby boy via surrogate.

Elijah Joseph Daniel Furnish-John (try saying that five times fast without hiccuping over the syllables) was born in Las Vegas late last week.

Elijah is the new brother of 2-year-old Zachary, who was reportedly born to the same surrogate mother.

65-year-old Elton and 50-year-old filmmaker David are reportedly over the moon, telling Hello! magazine that “the birth of our second son completes our family in a most precious and perfect way… we are just overwhelmed with happiness and excitement.”

Bedtime stories at Zachary and Elijah’s place would be rather fun we think – imagine having Elton sing you to sleep each night?

4. Let’s all dress as cows … awesomely awkward mother and daughter photos [click to see].

5. So it turns out that Ryan Gosling was almost a Backstreet Boy but turned down the opportunity.

The Drive star recently admitted that he was asked to join the baggy-panted, floppy haired boy band by his former neighbour, Backstreet Boy AJ McLean.

Gosling initially rejected the offer, telling McLean, “‘it’s never going to happen. Didn’t they already do that with New Kids [on the Block]?” Bam.

Gosling then had a change of heart, but McLean never returned his call. That’s right – even Ryan Gosling is left waiting by the phone sometimes.

And even though the opportunity never eventuated, let us just pause and entertain the thought of Ryan as a Backstreet Boy for one moment. Ryan, open-shirted, singing in front of a wind machine, wearing a jaunty little hat and doing some coordinated dance moves with dinning room chairs…

Actually, maybe scratch that thought.

6. Ugh, imagine bumping into two exes on the same night … it happened to J-Lo at the Golden Globes (with Ben Affleck and Puff Daddy). See what happened next: http://bit.ly/W84FfJ