Jessa Duggar Details Difficulty to “Bounce Back” From Baby Weight

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Jessa Duggar is openly discussing her postpartum weight loss journey after welcoming her sixth child with husband Ben Seewald.

The former star of *19 Kids and Counting* has been talking about how frustrating it is that none of her old clothes fit now that she’s getting back into shape after having a baby.

Jessa shared in a YouTube video on September 15th that she typically gains around 40 pounds during each pregnancy. With her current pregnancy, involving her son Edward, she’s gained closer to 45 pounds.

The 32-year-old shared that she thinks she’s lost about half of the weight gained during pregnancy, but added with a laugh that she still has a ways to go to reach her goal.

“It just doesn’t seem to happen quickly enough,” shared Jessa, who is a mom to Spurgeon, 9, Henry, 8, Ivy, 6, Fern, 4, and George, who is 20 months old. “I try to stay calm about it, but my husband, Ben, probably thinks I worry too much.”

“Ben’s like, ‘Calm down. You literally just gave birth to a human, so you’re fine,'” the Counting On star continued. “I’m like, ‘Nothing fits.'”

Jessa made it clear she doesn’t expect to quickly snap back to her pre-pregnancy body, saying she’s not the type of mom who’s back in her old clothes just six weeks after giving birth.

“Everybody’s timeline is different,” she added. “Being older is different, too.”

Jessa welcomed her son, Edward, on July 26th, and her sister, Jordyn-Grace Duggar, who is 16 years old, had the special role of cutting the umbilical cord.

In a YouTube video from August, she shared that she told Ben, ‘You really need to cut the cord this time.’ She explained that he gets queasy easily and, while he’s a wonderful source of support during labor, he prefers to avoid being too close to the delivery itself.

Since it was Jordyn’s first time attending one of Jessa’s births, she was given the special role. Jessa, who has six children, said Jordyn was very enthusiastic about it.

And as it turned out, Edward came out weighing “10 pounds even.”

In their vlog, Ben shared that the doctor estimated the baby would weigh ten pounds, calling it one of the largest babies they’d ever delivered.

For a complete guide to the Duggar family tree, read on.

Jessa welcomed her son, Edward, into the world on July 26th. Her sister, Jordyn-Grace Duggar, who is 16 years old, had the special role of cutting the umbilical cord.

In a YouTube video from August, she shared that she told her husband, Ben, he needed to cut the umbilical cord this time. She explained that he gets easily queasy and, while he’s a wonderful source of support during labor, he’s not comfortable being close to medical procedures.

Because it was Jordyn’s first time attending one of Jessa’s births, she was given the special role. Jessa, who has six children, explained that Jordyn was very enthusiastic about it.

And as it turned out, Edward came out weighing “10 pounds even.”

In their vlog, Ben shared what the doctor said about their baby: ‘I think this baby will weigh around ten pounds – one of the biggest I’ve ever delivered!’

For a complete guide to the Duggar family tree, read on.

Let me tell you, some love stories are just incredible! I recently met a couple who were high school sweethearts, and they’ve built a beautiful life together. They’re parents to 19 children and grandparents to over 36! It’s truly heartwarming to see a relationship blossom and grow into such a large, loving family.

Michelle remembers accepting a religious faith at age 15. Shortly after, Jim Bob was visiting homes in the neighborhood as part of his church’s outreach program. A friend mentioned a new believer – a cheerleader from school – lived with the Ruark family, so Jim Bob went to their door.

Jim Bob and Michelle first met when they invited her to Sunday school at their church. Jim Bob hoped they would become spiritual mentors to each other, though Michelle didn’t remember the meeting as vividly. A year later, Michelle applied for a job at the frozen yogurt shop run by Jim Bob’s parents. As Michelle recalled in a 2017 blog post celebrating their 33rd wedding anniversary and Jim Bob’s birthday, he approached her at the counter, introduced himself, and was very sweet, if a little shy. She mostly remembered him finally working up the courage to ask her to the junior-senior banquet.

Michelle and Jim Bob first connected at a dinner held at Shiloh Christian. However, it was the hours they spent talking about the Bible at her parents’ home afterward that truly sparked their connection. As Michelle recalls, that’s when they felt their hearts truly connected. They graduated high school in May 1984 and were married just two months later in July. Michelle was 17, and Jim Bob was 19 at the time.

The couple dedicated themselves to God and each other for the long run.

Jim Bob previously served as a state representative for Arkansas’s sixth district from 1999 to 2002, where he was vice chair of the House Corrections and Criminal Law Subcommittee. He unsuccessfully ran for U.S. Senate in 2002 and later sought the Republican nomination for the Arkansas State Senate in District 35 in 2006, but was not selected.

Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, both licensed real estate agents, are known for their involvement in conservative causes. This aspect of their lives has made them both strong advocates for and frequent targets of criticism, particularly in relation to their show, *19 Kids and Counting* (originally *17 Kids and Counting*, which first aired in 2008).

As of October 2024, they were grandparents of 33 with three on the way.

Josh Duggar, the oldest of the Duggar children, was born on March 3, 1988. Like his parents, he became involved in conservative activism, working with the Family Research Council.

Josh Duggar resigned after old police records from 2015 came to light, alleging he had sexually abused multiple girls, including his sisters Jessa and Jill Duggar, when he was a teenager. In a June interview with Fox News, Jessa defended her brother, claiming the accusations were exaggerated and untrue. She stated that, as one of the victims, she knew the claims were false, even if others disagreed.

His wife, Anna Duggar, whom he married on September 26, 2008, in a ceremony shown on the show *19 Kids and Counting*, remained supportive, even after he confessed to infidelity.

In 2016, when he began treatment, his parents described it as an important start to his recovery process.

Anna and her husband have seven children: Mackynzie (born October 8, 2009), Michael (June 15, 2011), Marcus (June 2, 2013), Meredith (July 16, 2015), Mason Garett (September 12, 2017), Maryella Hope (November 27, 2019), and Madyson Lily (October 23, 2021). Meredith was born on the same day TLC canceled their show, *19 Kids*.

I was shocked to learn that Josh was indicted in April 2021 on charges of receiving and possessing child pornography. He initially pleaded not guilty, but in 2022, a jury found him guilty on both counts. However, the judge later dismissed the possession charge. Ultimately, he was sentenced to 12 and a half years in prison, which is a really difficult outcome to process.

Soon after Josh arrived, Michelle became pregnant again, but sadly, she lost the baby. While they were still heartbroken and seeking direction, Michelle and Jim Bob were overjoyed to discover they were expecting twins.

It felt like a wonderful gift from God, a real encouragement to us,” she explained. “We’re still figuring things out as we go. It’s quite rare, because I nurse my babies, but they’re born very close together – I get pregnant again only about eight months after having a baby. It’s just another unique part of our journey that we believe God orchestrated.

John David Duggar and his twin sister Jana Duggar were born on Jan. 12, 1990.

John David and Abbie-Grace Burnett married on November 3, 2018, after a quick romance and engagement. They had known each other for several years, but first met in person at a church event in Oklahoma, where Abbie-Grace grew up.

They welcomed daughter Grace Annette Duggar on Jan. 7, 2020 and son Charlie Duggar in September 2022.

In a heartfelt message on their 30th birthday in January 2020, Jana reflected on a lifelong question about having a ‘twin connection’ with John – that feeling of sharing each other’s thoughts and emotions. She’d always said they didn’t, but with the birth of their daughter, Gracie, she realized she truly felt John’s joy as if it were her own, making her believe the connection was real after all.

Jana said it was lovely seeing them and Abbie as parents, adding that they seemed like natural parents. She also pointed out that the qualities that make him a great brother will definitely make him a wonderful dad.

Jana watched eleven of her eighteen siblings get married before she met her husband, Stephen Wissmann. Stephen’s sister, Hannah, is married to Jana’s brother, Jeremiah. Although she sometimes felt frustrated by the wait, Jana believes everything happened according to God’s plan.

Jana recently shared with *People* magazine that she didn’t always have a clear vision for her future, but she trusts that God has a plan for everyone. That’s why she’s choosing to get married later in life. She believes that everyone’s journey is unique, and a world where everyone followed the same path would be uninteresting.

Just over a year later, the couple shared that they’re expecting their first baby.

Jill Dillard (born May 17, 1991) met her husband, Derick, in a sweet way that mirrored her parents’ meeting. He visited the Duggar family home in December 2011 while caroling with his church group, and they were both immediately drawn to each other. Derick grew up about 45 minutes from the Duggars.

Jim Bob introduced Jill and Derick, and they quickly connected through emails and video calls. That November, Jill and her father visited Derick in Nepal, and their relationship blossomed. Derick formally asked Jim Bob for Jill’s hand in marriage in February 2014, and they were married on June 21st of that year. They now have three sons: Israel, born April 6, 2015, Samuel, born July 8, 2017, and Frederick, born July 7, 2022.

In April 2024, Jill announced she had experienced a miscarriage while expecting her and Derick’s first daughter.

In the Amazon Prime Video documentary *Shiny Happy People: Duggar Family Secrets*, which debuted in June 2023, Jill and Derick Duggar discussed the issues and religious convictions connected to their family.

Jim Bob and Michelle’s fifth child, Jessa Duggar, was born Nov. 4, 1992.

Jessa and Ben first met at church, and he began pursuing a relationship with her in 2013. This formal approach to courtship was new to many viewers. Because the couple didn’t discuss their romantic relationship before getting engaged, Jim Bob explained to *People* magazine that courtship involves getting to know each other with both families involved, and setting goals together to see if they’re a good match for marriage. He contrasted this with typical dating, where couples often spend time alone, which can sometimes lead to physical intimacy.

Ben asked for Jessa’s parents’ permission to marry, and then proposed in August 2014 – it was the first time they’d ever held hands! They quickly married on November 1, 2014. Jessa was expecting their first child when their show, *19 Kids and Counting*, was canceled. Shortly after, TLC aired a special episode featuring Jessa and her sister Jill discussing sexual abuse and raising awareness about the topic. That winter, the sisters then starred in their own show, *Jill and Jessa: Counting On*, which later became *Counting On* and included other members of the Duggar family.

Jessa and Ben have four children: Spurgeon, born November 5, 2015; Henry, born February 6, 2017; Ivy Jane, born May 28, 2019; and Fern, born in July 2021. They sadly experienced a miscarriage during the 2022 holidays, but welcomed their newest son, George, in December 2023.

In August 2025, Jessa announced the birth of son Edward.

The sixth Duggar child, Jinger Vuolo, was born Dec. 21, 1993.

Jinger and Jeremy first connected while doing ministry work in Laredo, Texas, and began dating in 2016. They got married on November 5, 2016 – which happened to be the birthday of Jinger’s nephew, Spurgeon – and quickly faced speculation that they were expecting a baby. Being one of nineteen children, coordinating important dates was always a challenge!

In June 2017, on an episode of *Counting On*, Jinger shared that she and her family hoped to be settled in Laredo a year from then, continuing their ministry and finding ways to serve God.

Jinger and Jeremy Vuolo’s daughter, Felicity, was born on July 19, 2018. They had previously shared that they experienced a miscarriage in the fall of 2017, and in November 2020, they welcomed another daughter, Evangeline Jo.

Son Finnegan Charles was born March 29, 2025.

Joseph Duggar, born on January 20, 1995, proposed to Kendra Caldwell at his sister Joy-Anna’s wedding in May 2017. They had met through church and had been courting for only a few months at the time.

Joseph admitted he was nervous when he proposed, but he felt confident she’d say yes because she had previously told him, ‘I’m just waiting on you!’ Kendra shared her reaction, saying, ‘I’m so happy and so shocked – I don’t even know what to say!’

The couple has welcomed three children: a son named Garrett, born in June 2018, and daughters Addison, born in November 2019, and Brooklyn, born in February 2021.

Eighth in line, Josiah Duggar was born on Aug. 28, 1996.

After publicly dating for only a few months, the couple announced their engagement in March 2018. He shared that he proposed to Lauren at the same location where her parents had gotten engaged, explaining that the property held a lot of family history and was therefore very meaningful to her.

Lauren’s future mother-in-law, Michelle, shared in a video on the family’s blog how much they adore her, calling her “such a precious girl.” Jessa and Ben also congratulated the couple and playfully offered chocolate candies shaped like hugs and kisses. Michelle jokingly said they knew the couple planned to share their first kiss on their wedding day, but offered the chocolates as a fun consolation prize if they visited.

Josiah previously dated Marjorie Jackson, but they ended their relationship in the summer of 2015. He told *People* magazine in March 2016 that they had enjoyed their time together and were trying to discern what God wanted for them. Ultimately, Marjorie didn’t feel the timing was right, so they decided to take a break.

He and Lauren got married on June 30, 2018, and described their wedding day as “absolutely perfect” in an interview with *People* magazine. They had their first daughter, Bella Milagro, on November 8, 2019-a name meaning “miracle baby”-after Lauren experienced a miscarriage in October 2018. Their family grew with the arrival of another daughter, Daisy, in 2022, and a son named Ezra in May 2023.

Ninth sibling Joy-Anna Duggar was born Oct. 28, 1997.

Joy-Anna Duggar and Austin Forsyth had been friends for 15 years before they began dating. They quickly fell in love, with Austin proposing in February 2017. They were married on May 26, 2017, at Cross Church in Rogers, Arkansas – the same wedding where Joseph Duggar proposed to Kendra Caldwell!

Joy-Anna and Austin have three children: Gideon Martin Forsyth, born February 23, 2018; Evelyn Mae Forsyth, born August 21, 2020; and Gunner James Forsyth, born May 17, 2023.

Jed and Jeremiah Duggar, the second set of twins born to Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, arrived on December 30, 1998.

Jed and Katey Nakatsu married in April 2021 after dating for a year. They have two children: a son named Truett, born in May 2022, and a daughter named Nora Kate, born in June 2023.

Jed and Katey shared the exciting news in July 2024 that they were expecting twin girls. Elsie Kate and Emma Kate arrived on January 8, 2025.

Jeremiah, a flight instructor, is married to Hannah Wissmann, who is the sister of Stephen Wissmann (Jana’s husband). They have two daughters: Brynley, born in December 2022, and Brielle, born in February 2024.

They announced the arrival of their third daughter, Emery ‘Emy’ Jane Duggar, on May 18, 2025.

No. 12 Jason Duggar was born on April 21, 2000.

Back in January 2017, the Daily Mail said Jim Bob assisted Jase in purchasing a run-down house in Prairie Grove, Arkansas-roughly half an hour from the Duggar family’s property. Jase then went on to launch his own construction business.

He publicly announced his relationship with Maddie Grace on Instagram in May 2024, and they got married in October of the same year.

Charmed No. 13, James Duggar was born July 7, 2001.

I’ve noticed he’s not actively dating right now, but honestly, he’s amazing with kids! He’s a total softie when it comes to his nieces and nephews – he absolutely adores them, and they have a huge crew of them!

Mom Michelle described James as the ‘fun uncle’ – someone all the younger boys admire and want to emulate. She shared this on his 19th birthday in 2019, noting his ability to accomplish anything he sets his mind to. Even when he was little, he loved taking things apart – from household appliances to anything else he could get his hands on – to understand how they worked. He wasn’t just about disassembly though; he’d always reassemble everything, often with his own unique improvements!

James put in a lot of effort this year to earn his commercial driver’s license, and now he’s skilled at operating large trucks and heavy equipment! We’re excited to see what opportunities lie ahead for him.

No. 14 Justin Duggar arrived on Nov. 15, 2002.

He began dating Claire Spivey in September 2020, and they announced their engagement the following November. They were married on February 26, 2021.

Jackson Duggar, the fifteenth child of Jim Bob and Michelle, was born on May 23, 2004. He’s pictured here with his older sister, Jill.

On Jackson’s sixteenth birthday, his mom, Michelle, complimented his funny personality and said she knew he was eager to finally get his driver’s license.

Johannah Duggar was born on October 11, 2005, which is why her family was featured in the original special called *16 Kids and Moving In*.

On her daughter’s 15th birthday in 2020, Michelle wrote about how much joy she brings to others and how easily she makes friends. She also shared how her younger sisters completely adore her, and expressed her gratitude to God for the privilege of being her mother.

Jennifer Duggar arrived on Aug. 2, 2007, then the baby of the family.

Their TLC show that premiered Sept. 29, 2008, was christened 17 Kids and Counting.

Now, OMG, she’s a teenager.

When her daughter, Jennifer, turned thirteen, Michelle described her as reliable, loyal, and a joy to be around. Jennifer is beloved by her younger cousins, who constantly want to be held by her! She also has a big heart for animals, consistently caring for her pets, and recently even helped raise a family of seven bunnies.

Here on the right, the penultimate Duggar child was born Dec. 18, 2008.

Oh my gosh, Jordyn-Grace is just… radiant! Her mom described her back in 2019 as this incredibly friendly person who instantly connects with *everyone*. And her laugh? Seriously, it’s the absolute highlight of their day, always! It just instantly brightens everything up, you can tell she’s a natural ray of sunshine.

Josie Duggar, number 19 in her family, is pictured here with her niece, Meredith. She was born on December 10, 2009, three months early and weighing just 1 pound, 6 ounces. She spent six months receiving care in the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit).

Michelle described her daughter Josie as incredibly energetic in a birthday post from 2020. She wrote that Josie is constantly on the go, rarely stopping from the moment she wakes up until bedtime!

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2025-09-16 00:22