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2012 was the year of the famous fetus. While America spent the bulk of the year arguing over women’s reproductive rights, the rest of the world was fascinated with the wombs of famous women. From reality TV stars to music moguls, the hottest accessory of the year was a swollen belly

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The first media reports on this former First Daughter’s pregnancy hit the Internet in early December, just in time for the holidays. 'This is the one gift they've been bothering me about,' Jenna Bush told Access Hollywood. We wonder what will end up being the more demanding job for George W. Bush: president or granddaddy?Shealah Craighead/The Associated Press

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People really started talking about Claire Danes’s pregnancy when she stepped out in a stunning yellow dress, which gracefully draped over her little bump, at this fall’s Emmys. The Homeland actress gave birth to a baby boy (with a big name: Cyrus Michael Christopher Dancy) on December 17.Mario Anzuoi/Reuters

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Often proclaimed the sexiest woman alive, Megan Fox’s pregnancy resulted in too many puerile MILF reference. But with her as mom (and Brian Austin Green as the dad), it’s a pretty safe bet Noah, born last September, will soon be named sexiest celebrity toddler. (Sorry, Knox and Vivienne Jolie-Pitt.)Mike Cassese/Reuters

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Marissa Mayer had a big year. First she was named the new CEO of Yahoo, then she announced her pregnancy and then she received a barrage of criticism for saying she was only going to take a short mat leave. So much for having it all?Noah Berger/Reuters

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Poor Jessica Simpson. For years all this woman got was criticism about her weight. Then she got pregnant and all of the overt remarks on her figure were contorted into thinly-veiled “concerns” about how she looked like she was ready to explode with her baby. Hope Jessica grew a thick skin from that experience because she just announced she’s pregnant with baby number two.Geoff Robins/The Globe and Mail

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Famous for behaviour unbecoming of a mother (largely thanks to drinking incredible amounts of booze), Snooki has also been an obsession of gossip sites this year after confirming she was pregnant back in March. She gave birth to baby Lorenzo, the first to born in the Jersey Shore gang, in August.Evan Agostini/The Associated Press

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It’s not clear what was more shocking: That Adele managed to keep her pregnancy a secret until she was six months along or that her son wasn’t born with a Grammy in his hand.Matt Sayles/The Associated Press

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At only 11-months-old, Blue Ivy is not only the coolest baby on earth, she is also far more powerful than 95 per cent of people, everywhere, thanks to her uber-successful mom and dad. But even Jay-Z and Beyonce can't have it all: They tried to trademark their girl's moniker but it was a no-go.Evan Agostini/The Associated Press

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Could there have been a better Christmas gift for the world than when Duchess Kate was forced to announce she was pregnant in December? Likely not. Except for maybe a royal barf bag keepsake. (That’s a real thing, by the way.)Robert F. Bukaty/The Associated Press

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