In a joint post shared to Instagram on April 13, the couple revealed that their daughter Ira Marie Dillard was stillborn four months into her pregnancy.
There have been rumors for weeks that Jill is expecting.
However, neither she nor her husband confirmed the news until she made this shocking announcement via social media.
Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard speak here as part of a documentary about their family. (Prime Video)
“It is with great sadness that we announce the stillbirth of our beautiful baby girl, Ira Marie Dillard,” the former TLC personalities wrote over the weekend.
“Jill was four months pregnant (due in August) when we found out our baby had died in utero.
“From the moment I found out I was pregnant, I couldn’t wait to meet my baby.
“Isla was so loved from the start and her three older brothers were so excited to introduce her to their world.”
As seen above, the uploaded photo showed Jill and Derick looking down on a pink crocheted blanket.
In their message, they thanked the faithful for their prayers and said they were still grieving and healing “from the death of our little Ira Marie.”
Sadly, this is a process that will likely continue forever.
Parents never recover from the loss of a child.
Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard filmed a confessional segment for TLC early in their marriage. (Image credit: TLC)
The former reality star is the proud parent of three boys, Israel, 9, Samuel, 6, and Fredrik, 1.
Duggar miscarried her son River Bliss in 2021.
“Today marks one year since we said goodbye to our baby River Bliss,” Jill wrote at one point, praising the tragic turn of events.
“Our babies cannot live with us on earth, but they live forever in the presence of the Lord with the source of the river of life.”
Jill Duggar takes a selfie while cooking at home. (Instagram)
Following the news of the couple’s death, friends, family, and loved ones sent messages of support and condolences to the couple through comments on Instagram.
“We love you so much, sis. We will keep you all in our prayers. We will miss our sweet Isla,” Jinger Duggar wrote.
Added cousin Amy Duggar King:
“Isla Marie, such a beautiful name and meaning. Keep praying. God has a plan to overcome every heartbreak. You have been in my heart and in our prayers. And always will be. We love you all so much.”
Michelle and Jim Bob, take care! Jill Duggar has published a book that exposes how evil you really are. (Photo provided by Amazon)
Jill has been estranged from her parents and few siblings since publishing a controversial book that explores her highly conservative upbringing.
Duggar and Dillard sat down with Amazon last year for a documentary that further exposes many family/religious secrets.
“Yes, we were taken advantage of,” Jill said on the series, adding that her father allegedly received millions of dollars for the family’s reality show and spin-offs while his children received nothing. It revealed that.
“For seven and a half years of my adult life, I never received a paycheck,” she added at the time.
Jill and Jessa Duggar appear on the family’s second TLC reality show. (TLC)
But through it all, Jill and Derrick remained dependent on each other.
Speaking to TODAY.com after Duggar’s memoir was published in September 2023, the couple admitted they supported each other through difficult times.
“A lot of what we’ve done over the past five years couldn’t have been done without her. Being a full-time mom with three kids under the age of eight is tough,” Derrick said at the time. Ta.
“She does that and still makes time for our dates. She’s also basically a lawyer (because she supported me through law school). )
We send our deepest condolences to Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard following this unimaginable loss.