Jill Duggar of ‘19 Kids and Counting’ Lost Her Child — How Her Life Turned Out after the Show (2024)

The reality TV show "19 Kids and Counting" captivated fans for years following the lives of real-life couple Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, who raised and home-schooled their 19 kids. Among them was Jill Duggar Dillard, whose life we delve into, from her missionary work, getting married, and leaving the show, to the loss of her baby girl.

Who Is Jill Duggar Dillard?

Jill Duggar Dillard is a TV personality who was born only 16 months after her parents had their first set of twins, Jana and John. Jill, who was born on May 17, 1991, was so close in age to the twins that people thought they were triplets.

Growing up homeschooled, Jill had the opportunity to learn various instruments when she took up piano, violin, and harp lessons. As much as she wasn't keen on practicing, Jill's parents encouraged her to keep at it. Now she is glad she did as she can play for relaxation and enjoyment.

Jill Duggar Dillard visits "Extra" studios at H&M in Times Square in New York City, on October 23, 2014. | Source: Getty Images

Jill also embraced faith at a young age; she accepted Christ into her life at 12 and got baptized at her dad's church. She was then intrigued by ministry work and went on a mission trip to El Salvador as a kid.

Jill Duggar Dillard doing missionary work in Central America, from a video dated August 26, 2016. | Source: Youtube/@TLC

Jill Duggar Dillard doing missionary work in Central America, from a video dated August 26, 2016. | Source: Youtube/@TLC

The TV personality loved mission work so much that she started teaching herself Spanish so that she could interact with other kids better. This drive pushed her to learn another skill. Jill, who has attended two of her mom's births, went through 12 weeks of birth classes. She soon started assisting midwives at birth and saw this as a career path.

Jill Duggar Dillard helps deliver a baby | Source: Instagram/jillmdillard/

Jill pursued midwifery training and education, becoming licensed as a Certified Professional Midwife. These kinds of midwives work on low-risk pregnancy issues such as postpartum care, birth, and hospital prenatal.

When Jill embarked on midwifery training, her prayer was to make the most of her single years acquiring valuable skills for future use, perhaps on the mission field. Now as a wife and mother, she doesn't intend to practice while caring for her own children.

Still, the skills she gained have been incredibly beneficial and she hoped to find other uses for them, such as teaching, later on.

As mentioned, the TV personality is a mom and wife, who has been married to her husband, Derick Dillard for close to ten years now. Jim Bob Duggar, Jill's father, played a role in connecting her with Derick.

Jim was Derick's prayer partner when he was working in Nepal. During their phone calls, Jim would mention to Derick the work Jill was doing as a student midwife, which captivated him. Jill intrigued Derick since they had similar life goals.

In August 2013, Jim gave Derick Jill's phone number, mentioning that the two might get along well due to their mutual interests. The pair started texting, emailing, skyping, and calling until the day they met when they began officially courting.

At the end of February 2014, Derick asked permission from Jill's dad to marry her. With the permission granted, he proposed to Jill on March 29, 2024, and she said yes. The two, who tied the knot on June 21, 2014, have three children.

Jill gave birth to her first child, Israel David Dillard on April 6, 2015, when she was 23. On July 8, 2017, the couple welcomed their second child, Samuel Scott. Jill Duggar Dillard gave birth to her third child, Frederick Michael Dillard, on July 7, 2022, when she was 31.

She revealed that the name Frederick was special because it incorporated her husband's name, Derick, and his father's name Rick. This naming was exciting considering Derick's family also added 'De' to his name to signify the son of Rick. The naming of Frederick followed this tradition.

Jill and Derick's journey in love has always been Christ-oriented. When the pair first started their relationship, their goal was that Christ be praised as they served others through their family ministry. But venturing into ministry had Jill making tough decisions about her career as a reality TV star.

Why Did Jill Make Changes in Her Career?

Jill was a significant figure in the TLC series "19 Kids and Counting," which ran from 2008 until its cancelation in 2015. The reality star, along with her family, were super-religious and highly conservative on the show.

After "19 Kids and Counting" was canceled, Jill went on to star in its spinoff "Counting On." Yet, in 2017, Jill made the choice to quietly quit the show. The same year, her husband was caught in controversy, when he said being transgender is a myth. His comments were directed to Jazz Jennings, the transgender star of "I Am Jazz."

Derick added that it was an oxymoron for a reality show to feature something that wasn't a reality, that is being transgender. Jill's husband pitied Jazz, claiming that he was being used to promote the transgender agenda.

After Derick's rant, TLC posted a statement saying that he had not been involved in "Counting On" for several months and that there were no plans for his future inclusion. They emphasized that Derick's personal opinions do not align with the network's views.

TLC reaffirmed their commitment to sharing Jennings' and their family's story, stating that they will continue to do so. Meanwhile, Derick responded to this statement, denying that he was fired and that the statement was the first time he had heard about being let go by the network and show.

Derick revealed that he and his family cut ties with TLC and "Counting On" months ago because they were heading in a different direction. A few years later, Jill also opened up about her reasons for leaving the show and the station.

She noted that as a family, they realized they had lost the power to steer their lives in the direction they wanted. "We just wanted more control of our own lives. There was a certain job that we had been working towards for, even before we were married, that was taken away from us," said Jill.

Jill and Derick grew frustrated as similar situations persisted. Derick, who has been to law school, noted that they invested time and money into various opportunities early in their marriage, only to face roadblocks when they were told, "Well, you're not allowed to do that."

When the couple shared their decision with the network and Jill's family, it was met with resistance. Jill reflected that the reaction was not positive from anyone. Feeling disheartened, they recognized the need to withdraw completely, reassess their situation, and regain their footing.

Jim and Michelle responded to Jill's and her family's departure from the show, emphasizing their hope for reconciliation within the family. They expressed love and support for their daughter and her family, underscoring their desire for a swift and complete restoration of their relationship.

Jill's Current Life and Tragic Loss of Her Child

Following Jim and Michelle's response to Jill's departure from the show and their expression of hope for reconciliation within the family, Jill's life took a significant turn.

Departing from the strict rules she was raised with, Jill began to adopt a more flexible approach to life. Her parents had strictly forbidden various aspects of modern living, including birth control, physical contact before marriage, revealing clothing, dancing, alcohol, and non-religious music.

Jill has left these behind and is now exploring a different path. She has pierced her nose, indulged in the occasional co*cktail or glass of wine, and worn jeans, which is a deviation from the Duggar women's usual attire of long dresses or skirts only. The actress has even showcased modest swimwear through modeling.

Jill Duggar Dillard | Source: Instagram/jillmdillard/

"Sometimes, it's a good thing being okay with other people not being okay," shared Jill. During that time, the couple also began therapy to address and resolve the family conflict. However, they found it had unexpected positive outcomes.

Jill noted that it surpassed what they initially anticipated. Their focus shifted towards personal growth and healing. Reflecting on the experience, they regret not starting therapy sooner.

The couple has also started to share more about their lives on their Dillard Family blog and their official YouTube page, expressing the sentiment that they want to be the ones to share their own story. Jill and Derick are doing what they think is best for themselves and their kids.

However, they still hope to reconcile with their family. Jill expressed that she never anticipated reaching this stage with her family. However, she noted that healing doesn't adhere to a timeline. Jill mentioned her family's love for her and hers for them, emphasizing the importance of trusting God's guidance and taking each day as it comes.

As Jill and Derick tried to reconcile with their family, they continued living their lives and were recently expecting a baby girl. But In April 2024, they announced that they had encountered a tragic loss.

Jill and Derick shared heartbreaking news with their followers, announcing the stillbirth of their precious baby girl, Isla Marie Dillard. Jill, who was four months pregnant and due in August 2024, received the devastating news that their baby had passed away in utero.

The couple expressed their profound love for Isla, cherished from the moment they discovered they were expecting. They noted that their three big brothers were eagerly awaiting her arrival, eager to introduce her to their world.

As they navigate through this difficult time, Jill and Derick ask for prayers as they grieve and seek healing from the loss of their beloved daughter. The couple, who have stuck together through good and hard times, posed closely, holding their daughter's knitted clothes in the photo accompanying their post.