Jill Duggar Reflects On Grieving Still Born Daughter and How Husband Derrick Was 'Torn'

Jill Duggar Dillard and her husband, Derick Dillard, still carry the heavy weight of their daughter's stillbirth as they opened up about the experience, describing it as the “worst” chapter of their lives.

This reflection comes nearly two years after the former “19 Kids and Counting” star first took to social media to disclose the devastating loss.

Meanwhile, the stillbirth was not the only hardship the couple has endured, as they have also been open about their fertility struggles and a traumatic childhood experience Jill had to face. 

Jill Duggar Speaks On Stillborn Pregnancy Loss

 

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In a recent episode of the “Jinger & Jeremy” Podcast, Jill and Derick took time to reflect on the emotional toll the pregnancy loss had on both of them.

Jill admitted that she still has not fully “arrived” in life but noted that she is “on a path toward growth” despite navigating significant challenges. The couple then revisited the loss of their stillborn daughter, Isla, in early 2024.

“It was difficult, and I couldn’t take off like that much time because we had a lot going on that I had been the one to prepare for. Someone just can’t come in and step in,” Derick explained. “And I just kind of kept on going. And we were both grieving, but in different ways.”

Jill recalled feeling unwell throughout her first trimester while pregnant with Isla and said she had “just started feeling better” before suffering the loss.

As the weight of grief grew heavier, Jill revealed that she was “crying every single day,” while Derick felt “torn” between his career and his family.

She, however, acknowledged that Derick was doing his best to navigate his many responsibilities during that painful season.

The Couple Announced The Stillbirth Of Daughter Isla

 

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Although the couple is only now opening up about that period, the loss itself occurred in 2024, when they publicly shared the heartbreaking news, per The Blast.

The pregnancy had initially been kept private, but Jill and her husband later announced the tragic loss of their first daughter in a joint Instagram post.

They revealed that their baby girl was stillborn and shared her name, Isla Marie Dillard. The couple also disclosed that she was due in August but only survived four months.

The parents of three reflected on the deep pain of anticipating meeting their daughter from the moment they learned of the pregnancy, only to lose her before birth.

Family And Friends Extend Support To The Grieving Couple

Following the announcement, the couple received an outpouring of condolences online, as family members and friends expressed their love and support.

Duggar’s cousin, Amy Duggar King, wrote, “Isla Marie, such a beautiful name and meaning. Praying continuously.. God has a plan through all the heartbreak. You've been on my mind and in our prayers and will continue to be. We love y'all so much.”

Another family member highlighted that Isla will forever remain their first daughter, noting that the couple’s three living children—Israel, Samuel, and Frederick- are all boys.

The condolences from fans carried even deeper meaning, as Jill and Derick have been transparent about their fertility journey.

Prior to the birth of their youngest son in October 2021, the couple revealed that they had suffered a miscarriage shortly after sharing the pregnancy news with their older sons. They named the baby boy River Bliss.

Jill Duggar Penned An Open Tribute To Daughter, Isla

 

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Weeks after publicly announcing the loss, Jill returned to social media to share intimate moments from her pregnancy journey, which she had initially kept private while mourning her daughter.

As reported by The Blast, she posted a carousel of photographs capturing tender moments from her pregnancy. The images included Jill wearing a white shirt tucked into a long skirt as she gently cradled her baby bump.

She accompanied the photos with an emotional caption, "The baby bump photos we were so excited to share, but didn't get to before she was gone,” concluding by noting that Isla will always be daddy’s girl.

Jill Duggar Relived Her Brother’s Abuse In ‘Counting The Cost’ Memoir

While the pregnancy loss remains deeply tragic, it is not the only painful chapter Jill has addressed publicly.

According to The Blast, redacted police records were released in 2015, alleging that Jill and some of her sisters were victims of molestation by their eldest brother, Joshua “Josh” James Duggar, during their childhood.

Josh was later convicted on charges related to receiving and possessing child pornography and is currently serving a prison sentence exceeding a decade.

The trauma left a lasting impact on Jill, which she confronted in her memoir, “Counting the Cost.”

She explained that she wanted to share her story “while not coming at it from an angle of bashing or shaming.” However, she wanted to tell the truth.

Derick supported her decision, adding that they approached the writing process with the goal of empowering Jill to tell her story on her own terms.