Shawn Johnson and Andrew East Embrace Parenthood, Welcome Third Baby
Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson and her husband, Andrew East, joyfully welcome their third bundle of joy after announcing their pregnancy in July Celebrate their growing family with this amazing deal of the day!
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Shawn Johnson East and Andrew East have welcomed their third baby into the world on Tuesday, December 12, a precious addition deserving of a gold medal.
"Our baby's health is our top priority," stated Johnson East, 31, in the December 14 issue of her "FamilyMade" newsletter, confirming that she underwent a C-section.
The birth date of the baby holds a significant meaning for East, 32. "Life is truly wonderful and we feel incredibly fortunate to welcome a third healthy baby into our family. My dad was born on December 9 and unexpectedly passed away on December 27 of last year, so December has a great impact on us," he expressed in the newsletter. "The fact that our baby was born so close to my dad's birthday feels incredibly special, and I believe he would be looking down on us with pride and joy."
The retired Olympic gymnast and East made the exciting announcement in July that they were expecting their third baby. During an episode of their joint "Couple Things" podcast, Johnson East revealed, "We definitely waited a lot longer to tell you guys and, I'm not gonna lie, it's a little bittersweet. I've kind of loved having it to be ours. This has been so fun to have between us."
Hours later, Johnson East donned a teal gown to showcase her 17-week baby bump at the annual ESPY Awards. She then took to social media to share updates on her pregnancy, revealing that she has been more preoccupied this time around due to having two young children. During an Instagram Story Q&A session on July 13, she discussed experiencing nausea in the first trimester but feeling better now and attempting to resume her workout routine. She also noted that her current pregnancy is progressing similarly to her first, with her baby bump showing much faster.
Johnson East and East, who got married in April 2016, celebrated the arrival of their daughter Drew in October 2019 after experiencing miscarriages. Their son, Jett, joined the family in July 2021.
Speaking exclusively to We in September 2021, Johnson East opened up about the significant stress that having children can put on a partnership, marriage, and spouse. "I think that’s the one thing people never really talk about is babies [being] a huge stress on your partnership and your marriage and your spouse," she said. "Just because you’re now sharing your spouse with someone else … and you have someone who consumes all of your time."
At that moment, she expressed, "We faced significant challenges in feeling disconnected from one another. I was unsure of his role as a father, and he was uncertain of mine as a mother. It truly transforms your identity."
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While they are now adjusting to life as parents of three along with prioritizing their romance, they remain on the fence about welcoming another baby.
Johnson East admitted during the July podcast episode that she had previously mentioned this might be their final attempt. She directly addressed East, expressing concern over the toll that having large babies has taken on her body. She mentioned being open to adoption and exploring other options for expanding their family. Johnson East also noted that the toll on her body has led her to consider the idea of preserving her health and ability to care for her children. She added that even her obstetrician might agree that three children would be a good number.
