On Thursday morning at 9:33 am Jamie Lynn Spears, younger sister of Britney Spears, gave birth to Maddie Briann Aldridge. Maddie Briann is a whopping 7 lbs. 11 oz. and was born in the Southwest Mississippi Regional Medical Center. "Just the family was there," a source said. "Everyone is healthy and happy." Jamie Lynn's big sister, Britney, father Jamie and her brother Bryan flew to be by her side Wednesday to prepare for the birth.

Jamie Lynn announced her pregnancy, amidst much criticism from the public and the media. This was due to her age, sixteen, at the time she announced she was pregnant, back in December. "It was a shock for both of us, so unexpected," Jamie Lynn told OK! Magazine on learning she was pregnant. "I can't say it was something I was planning to do right now, but ... it's something I have to deal with, definitely, I'm looking forward to being the best mom I can be.

Some of the criticism could be attributed to Britney Spears going through highly publicized problems of her own. At the time the pregnancy was announced Britney Spears had been photographed with a shaven head and was going through a bitter divorce. These events culminated in the pop-star eventually signing into rehab.

The media seemed less critical today as many welcomed the newborn baby girl Maddie Briann into the world. Congratulations and best wishes were extended to the family on behalf of Nickelodeon; the television network that formerly hosted Jamie Lynn's television show, Zoey 101. The former Nickelodeon actress was let go and the show cancelled after announcing the pregnancy. The teen star had left the limelight and retreated to her hometown of Kentwood, La., after announcing her pregnancy

The actress, 17, and Aldridge, 19, got engaged in March and sometime recently the couple purchased a three-bedroom home in Liberty, Miss., where Aldridge went to high school. Casey & Jamie Lynn moved in together and have apparently been living together since. Liberty Mississippi is close to the Spear's family home in Kentwood. LA.

There are reports that Jamie Lynn experienced false labor pains late in the pregnancy but carried the healthy newborn to full term. Spears' is expected to receive a large payday for exclusive pictures of the newborn. Jamie Lynn's Zoey 101 costar, Erin Sanders, told PEOPLE earlier this year "She is just a very good-hearted and warm person...we would always hang out on the set and she is a lot of fun, so I think she's going to be an easygoing, fun mom." We certainly hope so and wish the young couple only the best.