Pregnant Mariah Carey poses nude for Life & Style cover

(CBS) - Pregnant singer Mariah Carey is baring nearly all on the cover of Life & Style magazine.

Carey, 42, who appears to be standing, uses her hair and arm to cover her chest while showcasing her protruding belly and massive wedding ring.

Pictures: Celebrity baby bumps
Pictures Mariah Carey

"I was feeling very vulnerable about taking pictures at all right now, but then I didn't want to miss this opportunity to document this once-in-a-lifetime experience," Carey tells the magazine. "My ultimate goal was to share this incredibly personal moment with my true fans."

Carey, who is expecting twins - a boy and a girl -with husband Nick Cannon, said the babies were very much a part of the photo shoot.

"The babies were kicking almost the entire time; it was unbelievable," she said. "Especially the girl -- clearly she's a diva in training!"

Last Sunday, Carey was rushed to the hospital after she experienced a bout of contractions.

We didn't start shooting until 1:30 a.m. because I was in the hospital from the night before until the day of the shoot with contractions five minutes apart!" she said

"Now I have so much respect for mothers everywhere, especially those who've had difficult pregnancies or given birth to multiples," she said, adding, "We need to have Mother's Day once a week!"

The new issue, with Carey's full interview and spread, hits newsstands Friday.