Pregnant star Nicole Richie suffered a terrifying health scare over Christmas, just weeks before she is due to give birth to her first child with Joel Madden. According to Star magazine, the 26-year-old became dizzy and disorientated at Madden's California home on December 26.

The Good Charlotte rocker whisked her off to the doctor, who checked the unborn baby and gave both mother and child the all-clear.

A source tells the magazine, "Her heart was racing - she was swearing and had the terrifying feeling the world was crashing in on her. She was scared to death that her baby's health was in jeopardy. Thank God Joel was there to take care of her. He immediately called their doctor to say he would bring her in."

The scare was particularly terrifying for the couple, coming just five months after she was taken to the hospital in Los Angeles suffering heavy bleeding.

Friends say doctors told Richie to slow down and rest ahead of the upcoming birth. The source adds, "She's been going at a frantic pace for months. Her body let her know it was time to slow down and make the baby's health her top priority."

(This news article provided by World Entertainment News Network)