TLC reality show alum Jill Duggar Dillard and her husband, Derick, have announced the heartbreaking loss of their first daughter at four months gestation.
The couple released statements on their Instagram page and their website, sharing the loss with their followers. “It is with heavy hearts that we announce the stillbirth of our beautiful baby girl, Isla Marie Dillard. Jill was 4 months pregnant (due in August) when we found out that our baby died in utero. From the moment we found out we were pregnant, we couldn’t wait to meet our baby. Isla was much loved from the start, and her 3 big brothers were so excited to introduce her to their world,” they wrote. “We appreciate your prayers as we continue to grieve and heal from the loss of our little Isla Marie.”
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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, approximately 21,000 children are stillborn each year. Typically, a stillbirth is defined as a pregnancy loss after 20 weeks gestation.
The Dillards are parents to three other children: nine-year-old Israel, six-year-old Samuel, and one-year-old Fredrick. Duggar Dillard has also previously suffered another pregnancy loss — a miscarriage in 2021.
“We recently found out that we were expecting our third baby. We were all thrilled! It was fun to see so much joy in the boys’ faces as we shared the news with them. They were full of questions and so excited as we talked about the pregnancy and how they would get to be involved along the way and after baby was born. However, a few days later we started miscarrying,” they wrote in the 2021 announcement. “Even though it was too early to tell the baby’s gender, we picked a name that we feel encompasses our baby’s significance and the life we will always remember: River Bliss Dillard.”
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Family members shared the Dillards’ heartbreak in comments on their most recent pregnancy loss post. “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,” Amy Duggar King wrote in a comment. “We love y’all so much.”
“We love you all. We are continuing to pray,” Deena Dillard commented. “Isla Marie is so loved. Forever our first girl.”
