2008 Olympic gold medalist gymnast Shawn Johnson East shared big news on her social media earlier this month: she and husband Andrew East are expecting another baby. The couple are already parents to daughter Drew and son Jett. They experienced a miscarriage before conceiving Drew, and East said in a recent episode of their “Couple Things” podcast that she believes she had another miscarriage between Jett and this current baby, who is due in December.
Shawn told People about the very ordinary way she learned she was pregnant. “[I] was just feeling off and took a pregnancy test. It was really nothing romantic or crazy like a YouTube video. And [I] told my husband literally three minutes later.” Immediately, Andrew was “very excited.”
In their pregnancy announcement video on Facebook, Andrew beamed. “Baby #3, comin’ this way! Let’s gooo!” He went on, “I’m definitely the most excited [between the two of us]. Kids are great! Who knew?” Shawn gushed to People, “He loves babies. He’s a phenomenal daddy and he is very excited. I’m definitely the more anxious one, just hoping everything goes smoothly.”
During the same podcast episode in which they announced this new baby, Shawn shared more details on why this will likely be her last pregnancy. As she and Andrew bantered back and forth about their exciting news, she said she doesn’t plan to have any more babies, but is open to growing their family further through adoption.
Shawn, who is 4 foot 11 inches tall, explained her rationale behind not having more biological children, saying, “Babe, you give me very large babies that take a very large toll on my body.” Both Drew and Jett weighed over 9 pounds at birth. Shawn continued, “And I, if we are wanting more children after this, I’m so down. But I’m down for adopting.”
Andrew chimed in “I’m super open to having more kids,” and said “I guess this is where the conversation in marriage takes place,” before acknowledging “I’m not the one who gets pregnant.” In previous pregnancies, Shawn has had c-sections, which she said has had an effect on her health.
“This will be my 3rd c-section. Given after our first c-section with Drew, we are kind of required to do c-sections from here on out,” she said. “Three c-sections on my body [will have] taken a very large toll. And I think in just preserving my body as a mom, not selfishly, [but] being able to run around after my kids and stay healthy, I think even my OB would be like ‘Three is a good number for C-sections. Let’s maybe not go for a fourth C-section.’”
Though Andrew commented that his own mom had been fortunate to have a successful vaginal birth after two previous c-sections, Shawn clarified, “I have been told a VBAC (vaginal birth after cesarean) is not really in the cards for me.”
Every child, biological or not, is a miracle and a gift. Every child deserves to be welcomed and awaited with great anticipation. Whether or not the East family continues to grow their family through adoption in the future, they understand just how precious this baby’s life, and that of any baby they may welcome in the future, is. Their expectant hope is a reminder that new life is always good.
