Joy-Anna Duggar Reveals Latest Details About Devastating 2019 Stillbirth

Joy-Anna Duggar is speaking candidly concerning the heartbreaking lack of her daughter, Annabell Elise, and the emotional healing that has followed.

In a strong latest episode of her sister’s “Jinger & Jeremy” podcast, the “19 Kids and Counting” alum reflected on the stillbirth she experienced at 20 weeks pregnant in July 2019.

Joy-Anna Duggar and her husband, Austin Forsyth, had announced their loss shortly after it happened, sharing that although they only had their baby girl for a short while, “she shall be in our hearts ceaselessly.”

Now, six years later, the mom of three is sharing latest details about her grieving process and the way she navigated the trauma of losing Annabell.

“I did have sort of a gut feeling that something is probably not right,” Joy-Anna recalled to her sisters Jinger and Jessa, who also experienced similar losses. “But additionally, I’m like, ‘I don’t need to over exaggerate.’ I just remember feeling so numb leaving the ultrasound.”

Probably the most difficult part, she revealed, was still having to undergo your entire delivery process at just 20 weeks.

“That was extremely hard,” she said. “I used to be grateful my mom [Michelle Duggar] was with me, because she had been through it before. I had a very good support team, but even with all of that, it was extremely difficult.”

Joy-Anna emphasized that grief isn’t linear and that healing, each emotionally and physically, looks different for everybody.

“There’s no set timeline,” she said. “I felt like I used to be in a cloud for six months. I used to be in a fog. Your body goes through a shock, and that timeline goes to be different for people.”

The previous reality star shared that in her darkest days, she found “peace and luxury” in her faith. “Everybody would say, ‘Oh you’re so strong,’ but inside, you’re freaking out. And I kept telling everybody, ‘It’s not me.’”

She added that visualizing God holding Annabell helped her cope. “Just that visual for me gave me an entire other view of it. ‘Within the arms of Jesus’ is what we placed on her tombstone.”

On July 1, what would have been Annabell’s sixth birthday, Joy-Anna paid tribute to her daughter on Instagram with black-and-white photos of her baby’s feet and a heartfelt caption, “Blissful heavenly sixth birthday Annabell Elise Forsyth ~ July 1, 2019 ~.”

Joy-Anna and Austin, who married in 2017, are also parents to Gideon, 7, Evelyn, 4, and Gunner, 2.

In a past appearance on “The Unplanned Podcast,” she opened up about her mental health challenges following Gunner’s birth in 2023, revealing she experienced intense postpartum depression.

“The postpartum stuff didn’t hit until probably two and a half months postpartum, after which every part crumbled after that,” she said. “I kept considering I must have all of it together. I’m seasoned. I shouldn’t be scuffling with this.”

At one point, she admitted she hit “all-time low,” even questioning if she desired to be here in any respect. But after looking for help, figuring out, and specializing in healthier habits, Joy-Anna said she experienced “an enormous drastic change.”

“I used to be just fighting, fighting, fighting for months and months to feel higher,” she shared. “I also wouldn’t change that season for anything… I’ve grown a lot.”

Joy-Anna first shared the devastating news of her daughter’s stillbirth in July 2019, revealing that she and husband Austin Forsyth learned of the loss during their 20-week ultrasound and gender reveal appointment. What was meant to be a joyful milestone quickly become heartbreak.

In a black-and-white photo posted from the hospital on July 4, 2019, the couple held their baby girl close, mourning the loss while capturing what little time they’d together with her. The emotional caption read, “Today marks one week since we heard these words…‘So that is your baby’s heart (pointing to the ultrasound screen). I don’t hear a heartbeat or see any movement.’”

Despite their grief, Joy-Anna expressed deep gratitude for the time they’d with Annabell. “We only had her for 20 weeks. Life is fragile and precious,” she wrote in one other post alongside a young photo of herself and Austin cradling their daughter. “So thankful the Lord gave her to us for that short time! She shall be in our hearts ceaselessly.”

She also took a moment to thank her followers for his or her support and prayers and gave a special shout-out to best friend and “Bringing Up Bates” star Carlin Bates, who traveled to be together with her and helped her prepare for the deeply personal hospital photo shoot.

“Thanks…for doing my hair and makeup for pictures with our little girl!” she added with heartfelt appreciation.

Joy-Anna later shared the special meaning behind her daughter’s name, writing, “Annabell means ‘God has favored me,’ and Elise means ‘God satisfies.’ What a precious thing to know that when our daughter opened her eyes, the very first thing she saw was the face of Jesus.”