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Beyonce, who announced her pregnancy earlier in the day, rubs her stomach after performing "Love On Top" at the 2011 MTV Video Music Awards in Los Angeles, August 28, 2011.MARIO ANZUONI / REUTERS

After Beyoncé debuted her baby-bump at Sunday night's MTV Video Music Awards, the world has been abuzz with questions of what will happen to the self-proclaimed diva's showbiz career once the little "B" is born.

The 29-year-old singer revealed at the VMAs that she is expecting her first child with husband, rapper Jay-Z (who she married in 2008). Wearing a long, orange gown by Lanvin, Beyoncé grabbed her bourgeoning belly, and announced to media: "I have a surprise!"

She confirmed her "surprise" to the world by ripping open her jacket to reveal the bump, and rubbing it onstage after performing Love on Top from her latest album, 4, at the awards show.

The announcement has been a long time coming, according to the Daily Mail, as the singer alluded to her pregnancy in a June interview.

"I always said I was going to have a baby at 30. I'm 29 now," she hinted to Piers Morgan on his eponymous talk show.

Beyoncé, who has won numerous accolades – including 16 Grammys – said in a recent interview that she has achieved enough in her career to settle down, and prioritize family.

"When you're young – 18 or 19 – you have the energy and drive. That's the time to work as hard as you can," the singer said in InStyle magazine's September issue. "Now I'm a woman, and because I gave it my all, I can focus on my marriage."

"I can decide I want to have kids. I can be the mother I want to be and dedicate myself to my children," she added.

The issue of attaining career-success before starting a family is one that confronts many celeb moms. Hip-hop artist Lauryn Hill went on to win five Grammys, and sell more than eight million copies of her debut-solo album The Miseducation of Lauryn Hill back in 1998, but faded into obscurity after taking a musical hiatus to, among other things, focus on raising her children. Canadian singer-songwriter Sarah McLachlan has never returned to her peak in the 1990s after breaking for babies.

Of course, there are those who have raised their brood while maintaining a successful career, including actress Reese Witherspoon (who already had two kids when she won a 2006 Oscar for her role as June Carter Cash in Walk the Line).

But, is this an issue specific to celebrities? Do you want to achieve all of your career goals before you settle to have kids?

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