LOCAL singer Maia Lee is going to be a mother again.

She is four months' pregnant with her second child.

The single mum has a 6-year-old son, Tyrese, from a previous relationship.

Although a recent ultrasound scan proved inconclusive, the 25-year-old former Singapore Idol contestant believes she's most likely having another boy.

But it's a pregnancy that has been fraught with uncertainty from the start.

The father of the baby is Croatian fighter Zidov Dominik, who is based in Koh Samui, Thailand.

The heavily-tattooed 27-year-old is taking part in The Contender Asia, a reality series in which 16 professional muay thai exponents slug it out to win the US$250,000 ($345,225) prize money.

Known for his aggressive fighting style, Zidov is the 2006 Swiss Sanda Champion and the current Swiss Muay Thai Champion.

The series was filmed in Singapore last year and is now airing over AXN (StarHub Ch 19) on Wednesday nights. The live finale is at the Singapore Indoor Stadium on 12 Apr.

When contacted over the phone, Zidov acknowledged that the baby is his.

He said he would be in Singapore on 8 Apr as he is appearing in a rematch at the finale.

STILL GOOD FRIENDS

Although he admitted that he and Maia are no longer in a relationship, he claimed they are still 'good friends' and will 'talk more' about their situation when he is in town.

On impending fatherhood, he told The New Paper: 'Yes, I'm feeling good about it. Of course, I was surprised (when Maia first told me she was pregnant).

'I asked her what she wanted to do about it, and she said she wanted to keep it. After thinking about it for a while, I agreed.'

Zidov said he will 'definitely' be returning to Singapore in September for the baby's birth and to register his name on the birth certificate.

He added that he would like to be involved in the baby's life 'as much as possible' and that he would like to 'see it a lot' after it is born.

But he has no immediate plans to move to Singapore, saying: 'My career in fighting is (on an upswing), so I'm focusing on that. And it's where the money's at.'

PROVIDE FINANCIAL SUPPORT

Even though Zidov hasn't given Maia any money for pregnancy-related medical expenses, he said he is open to providing financial support in future and will discuss it further with her next month.

Maia said the couple first met last September in Singapore during the filming of The Contender Asia, but got together only in November when he returned to Thailand.

They dated exclusively for a month, and she insisted it was a 'serious' relationship.

She discovered she was expecting in mid-January.

'At first, I felt joy, but then fear set in because I didn't know what Zidov would do. He was far away, and I wasn't sure about our status.

'I definitely wanted to keep the baby because I am against abortion, and he was okay with it.

'I was also fearful because I had music projects in Thailand, but now the producers have put everything on hold (because of the pregnancy).

'But I would gladly sacrifice my career for my baby.'

The ex-lovers talk once a week, during which Maia updates him about the pregnancy.

All she wants from Zidov is for him to 'have a relationship with the child, not with me, because it needs a father figure'.

She added: 'There's a possibility I might be relocating to Thailand in future for work, so we'll be in the same country.

'If he can help out and contribute financially, it'll be good and in the best interest of the child. But if he doesn't, I can still handle it, because I've never lived off men anyway.'

Maia said Tyrese has always been bugging her for a sibling.

She said: 'I kept telling him my factory was not working, but one day, I told him it's working again.

'He's excited, but I don't think he can understand where babies come from.'

She has since shown Tyrese a photograph of Zidov, and identified him as her unborn child's father who is 'overseas' and cannot be with them.

And when she broke the news to her father and sister, whom she's living with in a three-room HDB flat in Bedok North, they were neither upset nor happy.

'They said that no matter what happens, they know I'll make things work and they respect my decision.

'Anyway, I'm an adult and I'm not dependent on them financially.

'My dad was more concerned about my health because he knows my pregnancy was a difficult one.'

Maia said she went to the hospital five times because she was bleeding severely and had cramps. She was worried about suffering a miscarriage and has spent about $1,300 on medical expenses.

'It's more stabilised now, but the morning sickness is still killing me.'

Since late January, Maia has also suffered a loss of income, but declined to reveal exactly how much.

Because of her delicate condition, she has had to cancel gigs that require her to perform uptempo numbers and exert herself on stage.

MISSED CHANCES

Maia - whose only stable income now is from her Celebrity Star Blogger stint for The Straits Times' online portal Stomp - said: 'I haven't been working much, and I can only accept gigs that are not too strenuous.

'I know it's a pity that I've to let slip certain chances, but they can always happen again. I choose life over money. My pregnancy is more important.'

Isn't she concerned of what the public will think of her becoming a single mum again?

She said: 'Initially I was, but I can't hide my pregnancy for long. And there's no need for me to hide, because I'm happy.

'At the end of the day, I can answer to myself and the people I love.'

She also said she doesn't harbour any 'bitter or negative feelings' about getting herself into this situation.

'I did love Zidov and I don't regret that. And having a baby is definitely not something I regret too - I think it's heaven's blessing.

'Both of us are free spirits, and this is a good growing experience.

'I just have to learn to accept whatever comes my way and be responsible for my actions.'