Just a few days into 2019, Counting On star Jessa Duggar and her husband Ben Seewald announced the first Duggar pregnancy of the year, and it kicked off the most epic baby boom so far in the large family. But, things took a heartbreaking turn in early July when Joy-Anna Duggar and Austin Forsyth revealed they had suffered a miscarriage, so how is the 22-year-old handling all of the pregnancies in her family after experiencing such heartbreak?
During the first six months of 2019, there were a whopping six pregnancy announcements in the Duggar family (seven, if you count Cousin Amy Duggar). After Jessa’s announcement in January, Kendra Caldwell and Joseph Duggar announced they were expecting baby number two, and Josh and Anna Duggar revealed they were expecting baby number six.
Not long after, Joy-Anna and Austin revealed baby number two was on the way, Lauren Swanson and Josiah Duggar announced baby number one, and John David Duggar and Abbie Grace Burnett wrapped things up with their announcement that they were expecting their first child.
Jessa gave birth to her daughter Ivy Jane in late May, and the Duggar baby boom was off to a good start. But then – in early July – Joy-Anna and Austin revealed their miscarriage that happened at the 20-week mark when they went to the doctor for their gender reveal.
Fans might think it’s incredibly difficult for Joy-Anna to be around so many women who are pregnant, but she told Us Weekly that it hasn’t been as bad as she expected.
“I thought it was going to be a lot harder being around Kendra, Abbie, Lauren, and Anna because there are three sisters that are due the same time I was,” Joy-Anna explained. “But I was praying that the Lord would help me be excited for them. And I can honestly say that … I’m super excited for them. But I try and ask them a lot how they’re doing, how they’re feeling because this is an exciting time. They have little blessings that they’re adding to their family.”
Joy-Anna admits that meeting the babies when they arrive might be hard, but it’s not like she is upset that she lost a baby. The mom of Gideon says that she is still excited for her sisters, but it makes her think about what her daughter would look like, and what she would have been like.
Abbie Grace says that Joy-Anna has been strong in the wake of her heartbreaking loss, and she even asked to feel Abbie Grace’s daughter kick the other day, which the Oklahoma nurse thought was sweet.
Lauren also relates to Joy-Anna – as she suffered her own miscarriage in October 2018.
“I remember just when Jessa was expecting Ivy and I had lost our first one, Asa,” explained Lauren. “I just remember how sweet Jessa was. She’d write special notes and texts, just reminding me how much she loves me and that she was praying for me. That’s kind of one thing I do for Joy, sending her encouragement and sending her scripture. I know what it feels like when someone’s pregnant and you’re not. I know what you’re feeling and just knowing to be sensitive [to] different things.”
On November 2nd, Joseph and Kendra welcomed their daughter Addison Renee, and there will be more deliveries at the end of 2019 and the beginning of 2020 from Anna, Lauren, and Abbie Grace.
New episodes of Counting On air Tuesday nights on TLC.
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