Reese Witherspoon says giving birth is “very intense”.

The actress is believed to be expecting her third child, but is yet to confirm the pregnancy.

In an interview conducted before she was spotted showing off a visible baby bump, Reese discussed her experiences of labour.

She has two children – 12-year-old Ava and Deacon, eight – with her ex-husband Ryan Phillippe and admits becoming a mother changed how she looks at herself.

“Giving birth is a very intense, also on a physical level,” she is quoted as saying by Italian magazine Gioia. “But now I am aware of my body, and I feel sensual. When I was young I was unsure about my body. Now it’s different – I have cellulite and stretch marks.”

The 36-year-old star is happily married to Hollywood agent Jim Toth.

They are believed to have told their close friends and family that they are expecting their first child together.

Reese loves being a mom and her children will always come first in her life. The close-knit family enjoy being outdoors and keeping active.

“I am trying to spend as much time as possible with my children,” she explained. “We go to the cinema, we walk and sing. Ava loves running and Deacon loves riding. We have a ranch in Ojai with a lot of different farm animals. We spend a lot of time looking after them.”

When Reese isn’t working or exercising with her family, she loves cooking up a storm in her kitchen. She learned how to prepare her favourite meals from her grandmother.

“I grew up in Tennessee and I love cooking. Food is part of the culture in the South. I am great at preparing traditional dishes like fried chicken or recipes with cabbage,” she added. “I am also good at making grits. I learnt these recipes from my grandma, an amazing cook.”