Beyoncé gives birth to baby girl Blue Ivy Carter in New York

Beyoncé welcomed her and husband Jay-Z's first daughter Blue Ivy Carter into the world yesterday (January 7).

The singer gave birth by Caesarean section at Lenox Hill Hospital, New York with Jay-Z present, according to reports.

The couple are said to have booked the entire fourth floor of the hospital, costing $1.3m (£840,000), while Beyoncé checked in under the name Ingrid Jackson.



The new arrival was initially thought to have been called Ivy Blue, but friends of the couple have since confirmed that the baby girl is actually named Blue Ivy.

Friends of the pair have taken to Twitter to send congratulatory messages since the news broke.

Rihanna tweeted: "Welcome to the world princess Carter! Love Aunty Rih."

Russell Simmons added: "congrats to my good friends Beyoncé and Jay-Z."

A spokesperson for the couple is yet to confirm the news and security at the hospital has apparently been tightened.

Hospital workers have been asked to hand in their mobile phones and security cameras have been taped up.

Takeaway food and bottles of red wine were spotted being delivered to the hospital's private wing on Saturday night.

Beyoncé announced her pregnancy on stage at the MTV Video Music Awards last August.