Zooey Deschanel chats pregnancy

Zooey Deschanel can't contain her excitement about her pregnancy.

Three weeks after making the big announcement on January 13, the actress has spoken of how much she's looking forward to welcoming her first child with her new fiancé Jacob Pechenik.

Opening up to E! News about how the writers and producers of her sitcom New Girl are working around her growing baby bump, the 35-year-old couldn't contain her enthusiasm.

"I'm really excited. I'm so excited. I'm just so excited to meet my baby! We're very excited," the glowing star beamed.

While it was quickly decided that Zooey's real-life pregnancy would not be written into the script for her character, Jessica Day, the challenge then turned to just how they would conceal it.

Currently in its fourth season, the hit Fox show returns to US screens tonight and sees Jess covered up in a cumbersome three-piece suit made of sweatsuit material – dubbed a Swuit – that perfectly detracts from her midsection.

"I'm the only one who wears it in the episode. It was really comfortable, and I was pregnant at the time, but I couldn't tell anybody, so I was happy to be wearing comfortable clothes," she revealed to People magazine.

The loose clothing is also a blessing for the expectant star who revealed her appetite is much bigger than usual. Normally not one to indulge in a full breakfast she now wakes up ravenous, which has been an adjustment.

"I'm used to being able to go long periods of time without eating. Now I'll wake up hungry sometimes, and I'm like, 'What? I've never woken up hungry in my life!' Every day I wake up, and I'm like, 'Breakfast, please!'" she laughed to People.

Fortunately, with only four episodes left to shoot this season before a four-to-five-month hiatus, Zooey tells E! News that so far it's been "pretty easy to hide in costumes".

Sources tell E! that production on the fifth season may be delayed due to Zooey's pregnancy, though it will be decided closer to the time.

While the actress and her beau are understandably thrilled not only to have a baby on the way but with their recent engagement, which was announced shortly after, Zooey's co-star Jake Johnson has also revealed his delight.

"She and Jacob are so excited and I couldn't be happier for Zooey. She's a good friend and this is an awesome thing in her life. I think she's going to be a great mum," he told E!