BookmarkBookmarkTickBookmarkAddCheckBoxFilledCheckBoxCircleBumpCheckedFilledMedical

How Shawn Johnson Is Staying Positive Through Pregnancy Complications

Sometimes, as hard as it may be, it’s about putting things into perspective.
save article
profile picture of Nehal Aggarwal
By Nehal Aggarwal, Editor
Published October 15, 2019
pregnant shawn johnson
Image: Getty Images

When you’re pregnant, staying positive while dealing with stress can be a challenge. But Olympic gymnast Shawn Johnson has proven time and time again she’s a pro at staying positive when dealt with a difficult situation—whether that situation is a broken toe (she recently headed to the ER for the injury) or pregnancy complications.

Johnson, who is expecting her first child with husband Andrew East, first announced the pregnancy in a video posted to their YouTube channel back in April, also revealing that they had suffered a miscarriage a year and a half prior. “We had a miscarriage. This baby has been a long time coming, and we couldn’t be more excited,” East said in the video.

Johnson also announced the news on her Instagram, posting a picture of the couple from their maternity shoot. “We cannot WAIT to welcome you the world and shower you with love,” she wrote in the caption.

But the pregnancy has not at all been easy. In a video posted to YouTube in July, the couple discussed pregnancy complications they had learned of during their 20-week ultrasound. The imaging showed dilated kidneys that were retaining fluids and a two-vessel umbilical cord, which only occurs in 1 percent of pregnancies. Their doctor warned them this could mean increased risks of stillbirth and delivery complications, as well as indicate a possibility of baby being born with Down syndrome.

While dealing with the initial diagnosis, East and Johnson reminded themselves of how they had felt after their miscarriage. “The human mind does an amazing job at adapting and forgetting. Early on, Shawn and I were praying every day, just being thankful for the baby,” East said in the video. “Then it was like, ‘Okay, she’s pregnant,’ so we got out of that rhythm and took for granted to some extent that we had this [pregnancy]. This was a rude awakening that we really just need to be thankful that we have a baby.”

Despite initial hesitation, at their doctor’s recommendation, the couple decided to get genetic testing done. The results indicated there were no genetic anomalies present. Now, the couple is just focusing on raising a happy and healthy baby—and grateful that they have the opportunity to.

“It put things in perspective for us,” said Johnson in the video. “Everyone’s always asking ‘Are you having a girl or a boy? What do you want? Are you going to put them in gymnastics? Are you going to put them in football?’ We had those thoughts in the beginning, but now that we’ve reached this phase, we do not care. I don’t care if it’s a boy. I don’t care if it’s a girl. I don’t even care what the name is right now. I don’t care if they do sports—nothing. I just pray that the baby is healthy.”

Please note: The Bump and the materials and information it contains are not intended to, and do not constitute, medical or other health advice or diagnosis and should not be used as such. You should always consult with a qualified physician or health professional about your specific circumstances.

save article
Article removed.
Name added. View Your List
ADVERTISEMENT

Next on Your Reading List

krystal anderson dead after stillbirth
Kansas City Chiefs Cheer Alum Krystal Anderson Dies After Stillbirth
By Wyndi Kappes
pregnant woman being checked by doctor
Study Suggests US Maternal Mortality Lower Than Previously Estimated
By Wyndi Kappes
Everything You Need to Know About Cholestasis of Pregnancy
Everything You Need to Know About Cholestasis of Pregnancy
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
close up of varicose veins on woman's thigh
Why Some Moms Get Varicose Veins in Pregnancy—and What to Do About It
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
mom holding newborn baby in hospital after delivery
What It Means to Have a Retained Placenta
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
pregnant woman with son
Pregnant After 35: What to Know About Advanced Maternal Age
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
black pregnant woman sitting on doctor exam table
How Pain Inequities Impact Black Women in Pregnancy and Beyond
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
pregnant woman getting blood pressure measured by doctor
What You Need to Know About Preeclampsia
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
pregnant woman getting an ultrasound
What Cervical Insufficiency Means for Pregnancy
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
pregnant woman resting in bed
What Is Bed Rest During Pregnancy—and Is It Recommended?
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
ADVERTISEMENT
pregnant woman sitting on exam table while talking to doctor
What to Know About Placental Abruption
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
gynecologist performing an ultrasound on pregnant woman
What to Know About a Subchorionic Hemorrhage in Pregnancy
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
doctor doing a blood test for pregnant woman
Simple Blood Test Could Identify Those at Risk of Preeclampsia
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
woman holding newborn baby in hospital bed after birth
In-Hospital Maternal Mortality Rates Have Declined by Over 50 Percent
By Wyndi Kappes
pregnant woman drinking a glass of milk
Drinking Milk Can Lower Your Risk of Pregnancy Complications, Study Finds
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
nuchal cord wrapping around baby's neck in utero
Nuchal Cord: Causes, Signs and Treatment
Medically Reviewed by Kendra Segura, MD
bindi irwin endometriosis diagnosis
Bindi Irwin on Endometriosis and Questions Around Growing Her Family
By Wyndi Kappes
ADVERTISEMENT
doctor taking pregnant woman's blood pressure
New Research Finds Potentially Groundbreaking Preeclampsia Treatment
By Wyndi Kappes
Chris Lane and Lauren Bushnell Lane on stage during week 3 of ABC's The Bachelor presents Listen to Your Heart Season one
What Is Marginal Cord Insertion? Lauren Bushnell Lane Shares Her Diagnosis
By Wyndi Kappes
close up of pregnant woman's belly in hospital bed before labor
Study: Epidural Use Could Decrease Severe Maternal Morbidity Risk
By Nehal Aggarwal
ADVERTISEMENT
Article removed.