BRITNEY SPEARS is set to become a mum for the third time – but over the years, building a life with her two sons has proved to be incredibly complicated.

The former pop star, 40, announced her baby news yesterday, taking to her Instagram account to say she and fiancé Sam Asghari, 28, were expecting.

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Britney with her two sons, Sean and Jayden, in 2013 while she was under her conservatorshipCredit: Getty

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Britney currently shares her two teenage sons in a 30/70 split with ex Kevin FederlineCredit: Getty
She wrote: “I am having a baby… It’s growing! If two are in there I might just lose it.”

Previously Britney has bravely opened up about the difficulties she’s had raising her two boys, Sean Preston, 16, and Jayden James.

For years they have been the subject of a long-running custody battle with ex Kevin Federline, which eventually awarded him a 70/30 split in his favour after her high-profile breakdown.

The singer has also been embroiled in a controversial conservatorship dispute that she claimed forced her on to birth control, despite her wishes to have more children.

The two boys are said to have had “very few visits” with their mum in recent years, but have nonetheless supported their “idol” as she continues to get her life back on track after years of troubles.

Star’s ‘secret depression’ during pregnancy

Britney married ex-husband Kevin in September 2004. The following year they had their first son, Sean, and in 2006 Jayden arrived.

But even before they were born, Britney was secretly struggling.

She later revealed: “It’s hard because when I was pregnant I had perinatal depression.

“I have to say it is absolutely horrible.

“Women didn’t talk about it back then… some people considered it dangerous if a woman complained like that with a baby inside her… but now women talk about it every day.”

Just two months after having Jayden, Britney filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences.

Opening up on why their marriage fell apart, Kevin later admitted it was a “whole different lifestyle than I ever imagined”.

He explained: “I mean, just getting around from place to place and having 20 people follow you all day long – your whole life kind of being told through somebody else’s eyes. Everybody wants to put their own spin on it.”

“We like, were caught right in the midst of that whole thing. It was so crazy. I look back at it and it’s like, at times it was so overwhelming.”

Loses custody after infamous breakdown

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Sean Preston, 16, and Jayden, 15, last year with a family friendCredit: Instagram

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A troubled Britney fought for visitation rights in court in 2008Credit: AFP
At the same time, Britney’s parenting was coming under the spotlight after she was pictured nearly dropping Sean in a throng of paparazzi.

Months later, she was chastised for driving with the tot on her lap, but told Today she was “terrified” and fleeing photographers.

In 2007, Britney’s troubles boiled over and she had an infamous public breakdown, during which she shaved her head.

She lost custody of the boys and was allowed only supervised visits with her sons, while Kevin had full custody.

The court ruling tipped Britney over the edge and in 2008 she was arrested after a four-hour stand-off where she had locked herself and Jayden in a bathroom.

After going through counselling, she was then granted two visits and one overnight stay a week by a Los Angeles judge.

Her lawyer Laura Wasser told the Associated Press: “The fact is, it’s a win for the family.”

She added: “The difference from the beginning of this year to now is astonishing.”

Boys ‘took out restraining order’ against grandad

In the meantime, Britney’s father Jamie Spears, 69, filed for a conservatorship over the singer – which ended only last year.

Although he took control of her life and assets, the guardianship meant Britney was given 50/50 custody with Kevin.

The arrangement worked until 2019, when Britney’s sons filed a restraining order against their grandfather, amid claims he broke down a door.

A source told US Weekly: “Britney had the boys at Jamie’s condo on the evening of August 24.

“Jamie and Sean Preston got into an argument. Sean Preston felt unsafe and locked himself into a room.

“Jamie broke into the room and shook Sean Preston.”

Kevin’s lawyer Mark Vincent Kaplan explained: “There was a disagreement that occurred while Britney and the children were visiting with Jamie at his home that led to a physical altercation that was observed by Jayden.

“Britney did the right thing and removed the children and took them out of there, but the trauma to the kids is nonetheless.”

Following the restraining order, Britney was reportedly “angry” when the court granted Kevin a 70/30 custody split.

A source told the Daily Mail: “Britney hasn’t been spending time with her dad, and very much remains angry that she doesn’t have the boys as much as she did in the past.”

In 2020, a 13-year-old Jayden made claims about the restraining order during an Instagram Live Q&A. When asked about his grandfather, he is said to have told followers: “He’s a big d**k.”

Jayden was reportedly reprimanded by Kevin for the comments and a source close to the family said at the time: “He was experimenting on social media, and he will learn from it.

“He didn’t understand the consequences, but hopefully he will now.”

‘They love and idolise her’

Despite the dispute, the boys remained close to Britney.

A source told US Weekly: “She used to have more time with them until Kevin altered their custody arrangement after the incident with Jamie.

“Since then, the boys’ visits have been less frequent. They spend most of their time at their dad’s house and have very few visits with their mom, especially overnight ones.

“They are teenagers now and want to be with their friends, not their parents. It’s nothing against Britney; they love and idolise her, and Kevin trusts her.

“It’s just that they’re getting older, so when they’re not at their main home with Kevin, they’re usually out doing things with friends.”

When her conservatorship ended in 2021, Kevin’s lawyer hinted he would be open to revisiting the custody agreement.

But an insider told how Britney doesn’t want to upset the status quo.

They told Hollywood Life: “Britney knows that Kevin is a good dad.

“She doesn’t want to have war with him. No one wants that.”

A second source told the title: “She doesn’t want to put her kids through that mess and deal with unnecessary attention to them or their lives.

“They are both fully old enough to know exactly what is going on.

“They love her and are so glad that she is finally getting her life back.”

Britney remains fiercely protective of her children and has said they prefer to stay out of the limelight, meaning she has to “ask their permission” to post any snaps together.

However, over the last year, she’s shared snaps of them out and about together, admitting it “makes me crazy because they are so tall and geez they are still growing”.

She added: “There’s a lot I can’t share with you all because my kids are very private which I love but I will tell you they are both extremely talented and I’m so incredibly blessed to have these two little men in my life!!!”

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Britney announced she is expecting her third child with fiancé Sam Asghari this weekCredit: Getty Images – Getty

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Last year Britney posted a rare picture with her sons Jayden, left, and SeanCredit: Instagram / Britney Spears

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Britney and Jayden at a soccer gameCredit: Splash News

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Britney with a mermaid tail in the pool with her sons