Shawn Johnson East and More Celebrities Who Battled COVID-19 While Pregnant

Credit: John Salangsang/Shutterstock; Shutterstock

Shawn Johnson East and More Celebrities Who Battled COVID-19 While Pregnant

While expecting little ones, Shawn Johnson East, Karolina Kurkova and more pregnant celebrities contracted the coronavirus. The Olympian announced in January 2021 that her and Andrew East’s second child was on the way, and the Winning Balance author shared her diagnosis later that same month. “Got my results back today and they came back positive for COVID,” the Iowa native wrote via Instagram Stories in January 2021. “Not going to lie … I’m nervous knowing I’m positive. It's been a long two weeks of RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) with [my daughter], Drew, and now this. My body is exhausted.” The Dancing With the Stars alum described her symptoms, writing, “So far, I have a cough, terrible sore throat and headache. Fatigue for sure but that's pregnancy haha. Not looking for any kind of pitty [sic] party. Just a reminder to take care of yourself. Drink an extra water tonight and wash your hands. [We] had a very close family member fight for his life last month while battling COVID so it's a serious topic of concern/hits home in our household.” Shawn noted that she suffers from asthma, which made her “scare[d] a little extra.” The retired gymnast and the former professional football player welcomed their son, Jett, in July 2021. The couple’s baby boy joined big sister Drew, who arrived in October 2019. [jwplayer dO8lmOpw-zhNYySv2] Kurkova, for her part, was pregnant with baby No. 3 when she tested positive for COVID-19. “At first, finding out I had COVID while pregnant was unnerving, especially as I didn’t know anybody who had it while they were pregnant,” the model said during a March 2021 interview with Babe by HATCH. “The first night I was a little scared but went into full-on mama-bear mode. I had to stay vital for everyone. I was pregnant with three guys quarantined in our apartment, and no help.” The Czechoslovakia native, who shares Tobin, Noah and Luna with husband Archie Drury, added that she made fresh juice every day for “immunity … boosts.” The former Victoria’s Secret Angel explained, “Fortunately, none of us had symptoms outside of being a little achy, but it was still intense. We did our best to make it fun [for the kids] and lived upside down for a while because I felt terrible for the kids. The sofa turned into a trampoline, and I had to let go of my love of organization!” Keep scrolling to see more expectant celebrities suffering from COVID-19, from Harry Potter star Jessie Cave to Dancing With the Stars pro Witney Carson. [podcast_block]

Credit: John Salangsang/Shutterstock; Shutterstock

Shawn Johnson East and More Celebrities Who Battled COVID-19 While Pregnant

While expecting little ones, Shawn Johnson East, Karolina Kurkova and more pregnant celebrities contracted the coronavirus. The Olympian announced in January 2021 that her and Andrew East’s second child was on the way, and the Winning Balance author shared her diagnosis later that same month. “Got my results back today and they came back positive for COVID,” the Iowa native wrote via Instagram Stories in January 2021. “Not going to lie … I’m nervous knowing I’m positive. It's been a long two weeks of RSV (respiratory syncytial virus) with [my daughter], Drew, and now this. My body is exhausted.” The Dancing With the Stars alum described her symptoms, writing, “So far, I have a cough, terrible sore throat and headache. Fatigue for sure but that's pregnancy haha. Not looking for any kind of pitty [sic] party. Just a reminder to take care of yourself. Drink an extra water tonight and wash your hands. [We] had a very close family member fight for his life last month while battling COVID so it's a serious topic of concern/hits home in our household.” Shawn noted that she suffers from asthma, which made her “scare[d] a little extra.” The retired gymnast and the former professional football player welcomed their son, Jett, in July 2021. The couple’s baby boy joined big sister Drew, who arrived in October 2019. [jwplayer dO8lmOpw-zhNYySv2] Kurkova, for her part, was pregnant with baby No. 3 when she tested positive for COVID-19. “At first, finding out I had COVID while pregnant was unnerving, especially as I didn’t know anybody who had it while they were pregnant,” the model said during a March 2021 interview with Babe by HATCH. “The first night I was a little scared but went into full-on mama-bear mode. I had to stay vital for everyone. I was pregnant with three guys quarantined in our apartment, and no help.” The Czechoslovakia native, who shares Tobin, Noah and Luna with husband Archie Drury, added that she made fresh juice every day for “immunity … boosts.” The former Victoria’s Secret Angel explained, “Fortunately, none of us had symptoms outside of being a little achy, but it was still intense. We did our best to make it fun [for the kids] and lived upside down for a while because I felt terrible for the kids. The sofa turned into a trampoline, and I had to let go of my love of organization!” Keep scrolling to see more expectant celebrities suffering from COVID-19, from Harry Potter star Jessie Cave to Dancing With the Stars pro Witney Carson. [podcast_block]

Credit: Courtesy of Jill Duggar/Instagram

Jill Duggar

“Give me all the hot liquids and cough drops please!! Derick [Dillard] & I tested + for covid for the first time and it’s not fun! 
,” the Counting On alum wrote via Instagram in March 2022 amid her third pregnancy. “
Prayers appreciated for quick recoveries and for baby to stay healthy too!”

Credit: Shutterstock

Jessie Cave

“Anyone else had covid in 3rd trimester & had it hit them like a ton of bricks for weeks?" the actress captioned a March 2022 hospital selfie via Instagram, three months after announcing that she’s pregnant with her fourth baby.

Credit: Michele Eve Sandberg/Shutterstock

Karolina Kurkova

“As a bonus, it looks like the baby will have antibodies which is such a relief,” the actress said of the experience.

Credit: John Salangsang/Shutterstock

Shawn Johnson

The athlete returned to the gym one month after testing positive for COVID-19.

Credit: MediaPunch/Shutterstock

Witney Carson

"So I've debated sharing this or not … but yes, we did have Covid when Leo was born," the Utah native wrote via Instagram in February 2021. "We gave it to my parents on Christmas Eve. They weren't out of quarantine yet and had to meet their grandson for the first time through a window literally broke my heart into pieces."

Credit: Courtesy of Tiffany Thornton/Instagram

Tiffany Thornton

The pregnant Sonny With a Chance alum told her Instagram followers in February 2021 that she'd been hospitalized with COVID-19, two months after her pregnancy announcement. “My week has consisted of lots of snot filled tissues, vitamin c, d and zinc, Tylenol for body aches, chills and fever, a z pack for extreme congestion, soup that I can’t taste and a vaporizer/humidifier as my only friend in the quarantined guest room I’ve been hanging out in,” the actress wrote. “Not quite the way I wanted to spend my 35th birthday today but hey, I’m definitely feeling better today than the start of the week so I’ll take it. Happy Valentine’s Day my peeps!”

Credit: Courtesy Joy-Anna Duggar/Instagram

Joy-Anna Duggar

"Yes, Austin and I both tested positive for COVID last year,” the Counting On alum wrote via Instagram in January 2021. "I was still pregnant with Evelyn. We both had body aches, slight fever and lost our taste and smell. Thankfully, we recovered quickly!”