Simon Cowell's Girlfriend Lauren Silverman Is In Labor as He Rushes To NY From London

Simon Cowell's girlfriend Lauren Silverman is in labor, but unfortunately, the former American Idol judge is not even in the country -- at least not yet.

According to TMZ, Silverman went into labor early Friday morning, Feb. 14, and checked into Manhattan's Lenox Hill Hospital shortly thereafter. Meanwhile, Cowell was in London where he is shooting Britian's Got Talent.

Upon hearing the news of his girlfriend's labor, Cowell immediately booked a private jet for a flight back to the United States. Typically, flights from London to New York take about 7.5 hours, and since Silverman is in the early stages of labor, Cowell is expected to arrive in time for the birth.

Currently, doctors are doing what they can to delay the birth in hopes that Cowell will make it.

Silverman was reportedly not due until later this month, but according to TMZ, there is nothing to worry about.

Cowell and Silverman began dating in early 2013 and announced that they were expecting a baby together in Aug. 2013. At the time their romance first went public, there was tons of controversy because Silverman was the wife of one of Cowell's close friends.

Ironically, Cowell said in Sept. 2013 that he wasn't planning to watch the child's birth. ""I know this sounds awful, but it's like you don't want to go in to the restaurant while they're making your dinner," Cowell told Ryan Seacrest. "I think there are certain things you shouldn't see and that is one of them. I'll be very close by, but no [I won't watch.]"

As for the baby's name, Cowell joked in Nov. 13, "My number one choice is Simon because I like the name."