A little over a week after former Olympic Gold medalist Shawn Johnson East and her husband, former professional football player, Andrew East, welcomed their first child into the world, the couple is sharing all of the details of her birth with the world.
Details including her name, how she felt when she learned she would have to undergo a c-section, and more. On November 8, the proud parents took to their respective Instagrams to reveal the name they picked out for their baby girl and the meaning behind it.
The proud new mom announced that Drew Hazel East was born weighing 8 pounds, 8 ounces, and measured 20.5 inches long. She wrote that baby Drew is “named after the most incredible person I know… her daddy.”
“I meant it in the hospital when I said you will forever be my number one but she will now forever be OUR number one together.” Johnson then added, “Thank you to the incredible doctors and nurses who brought our baby girl into the world safely and to the best husband/daddy in the world for being there every step of the way.”
The name reveal came just several hours after Johnson took to Instagram and YouTube, opening up about the long labor she endured and ultimately the c-section she had on October 29. In the first part of their “birth vlog,” the couple revealed that Johnson was induced on October 28.
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However, while the former gymnast revealed that her original birth plan was to have a natural, unmedicated birth, things didn’t go according to plan. She wrote on Instagram that around the 14th hour of labor, she opted for an epidural.
“I went in with such a stubborn mindset of thinking the only way I could bring our baby into the world was naturally. No meds no intervention. At 14 hours when I chose to get an epidural I felt guilty.”
The new mom went on to say that eight hours later, during her 22nd hours of labor, she was informed that she would need to have a c-section. “At 22 hours when we were told I had to get a c section I felt like I had failed.” And then Johnson held her baby girl for the first time.
“After holding our sweet girl in my arms and being told everything went well and she had made it to us safely I could have cared less. My/our world no longer has anything to do with us but everything to do with her. It’s all for her and I will forever do anything for this girl that I love more than I ever could imagine. A love no one can ever prepare you for.”
But perhaps the most touching moment was when East went out to the waiting room to tell their parents, baby Drew’s grandparents, that they now have a granddaughter to spoil. The extremely proud father shared a video of the tearfully happy moment on Instagram.
East joked, “[I] never cried and laughed at the same time before but this day was full of it.” In the video, you can hear Johnson’s mom say, Hazel “was my grandmother’s name” as tears filled her eyes.
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The proud parents have also shared that their beloved fur-baby, Nash, has become quite the protector of his baby sister. The couple has yet to share the second part of their “birth vlog,” though it is expected sometime soon.
So what does everyone think? Will this athletic couples bundle of joy follow in her mom’s footsteps and be in the 2036 Olympics?
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