Joy-Anna Duggar Reveals New Details About Devastating 2019 Stillbirth

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

In a powerful new 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 time, “she will be in our hearts forever.”

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

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

The most difficult part, she revealed, was still having to go through the entire delivery process at just 20 weeks.

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

Joy-Anna emphasized that grief is not linear and that healing, both emotionally and physically, looks different for everyone.

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

The former reality star shared that in her darkest days, she found “peace and comfort” 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 a whole other view of it. ‘In the arms of Jesus’ is what we put 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, “Happy heavenly 6th 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 did not hit until probably two and a half months postpartum, and then everything crumbled after that,” she said. “I kept thinking I should have it all together. I’m seasoned. I shouldn’t be struggling with this.”

At one point, she admitted she hit “rock bottom,” even questioning if she wanted to be here at all. But after seeking help, working out, and focusing on healthier habits, Joy-Anna said she experienced “a huge drastic change.”

“I was just fighting, fighting, fighting for months and months to feel better,” she shared. “I also wouldn’t change that season for anything... I’ve grown so much.”

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 turned into 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 had with her. The emotional caption read, “Today marks one week since we heard these words…‘So this 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 had with Annabell. “We only had her for 20 weeks. Life is fragile and precious,” she wrote in another post alongside a tender photo of herself and Austin cradling their daughter. “So thankful the Lord gave her to us for that short time! She will be in our hearts forever.”

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

“Thank you…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 first thing she saw was the face of Jesus.”