Grey's Anatomy star Ellen Pompeo, who recently announced she and husband Chris Ivery are expecting, showed off the beginnings of a baby bump - and her two adorable pet poodles Valentino and Gigi - while visiting a friend in Hollywood.

She's pretty cute as pregnant people go ...

Ellen Pompeo carrying three cute critters - if you follow!

How Ellen's pregnancy will be written into Grey's Anatomy, if it is at all, remains to be seen. Will Dr. Meredith Grey become pregnant also? Will the actress take a leave of absence? Will the producers use camera tricks or other ploys?

The latter appears to be the producers' choice for Pompeo's pregnant co-star Chyler Leigh, whose character, Lexie, was nervously stuffing her face last episode.

Such a technique has also been pioneered on How I Met Your Mother, while Gossip Girl opts for the neck-up and overdressed approach for Kelly Rutherford.