"ER" Star Sherry Stringfield is expecting her second child, the ENQUIRER has learned - and the show's writers have come up with a storyline to accomodate the pregnancy.

 

The 36-year-old actress and her husband, science writer Larry Joseph, found out about 3 months ago that they were about to add a new member to their family, which already includes a daughter, 2-year-old Phoebe."

 

Sherry is thrilled!" a series insider declared. "Everyone on the set had been teasing Sherry about hanging around the services cart nibbling on cookies and other goodies, but they never dreamed she was eating for two - and neither did she.

 

"When she found out about the baby, she was overjoyed. But there was the question of how to handle the pregnancy on the show."

 

The storyline on "ER" had her character Susan Lewis split from her husband Chuck, played by Donal Logue.

 

"Dr. Lewis is a single woman. Times have changed and more and more women are single mothers. But she is also a doctor, so it was important to make her pregnancy a deliberate, not a situation out of her control," said the insider.

 

A source close to the show disclosed: "Producers weren't sure how the writers could work her pregnancy into the plot. But the writers are great about working around obstacles, and they found a way."

 

ER fans know, that on the Novermber 20 episode, Dr. Robert Romano was killed off in a helicopter accident, which means is position as chief of staff has to be filled. In the same episode, Sherry's character Dr. Lewis fears that her estranged husband Chuck is also killed in the wreck, and she realizes she might still be in love with him after all.

 

In a later episode, Dr. Lewis is offered the late Dr. Romano's position, but she refuses. Forced to explain why, she reveals that she is pregnant, having conceived with her husband before they split.

 

"It was a real relief to everyone that Sherry's pregnancy was written into the show," another "ER" source told The ENQUIRER. "When producers learned that Sherry was pregnant, they wrote a line for Chuck, asking Dr. Lewis whether she wanted them to have children together. It was just a quick mention, but enough to set up nicely her being pregnant now."

 

"The wardrobe department is glad they no longer have to hide her pregnancy. And Sherry is ecstatic that she can now dress in a way to celebrate her pregnancy.

 

She and Larry have their household all set up. They have a wonderful French nanny, who's teaching Phoebe French, and they feel they're ready to bring a new member into the family.

 

Plus, the timing of her pregnancy is perfect. She's due in April and ER's hiatus begins in March, so she'll have some time to spend at home with her baby." - Patricia Shipp and Robin Mizrahi