Jill Duggar Dillard and Derick Dillard lose daughter to stillbirth

Jill Duggar Dillard and Derick Dillard are in mourning following the unexpected loss of a pregnancy.

The “19 Kids and Counting'' stars revealed in an emotional Instagram post on Saturday that their daughter Ira Marie died as a stillborn baby.

“It is with great sadness that we announce the stillbirth of our beautiful baby girl, Ira Marie Dillard,” the couple wrote. “From the moment I found out I was pregnant, I couldn't wait to meet my baby.”

The Dillards have three sons, Israel David (9 years old), Samuel Scott (6 years old), and Frederick Michael (1 year old).

“Isla was so loved from the start and her three older brothers were so excited to introduce her to their world,” the couple continued. “We appreciate everyone's prayers as we continue to grieve and heal from the loss of little Ira Marie.”

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According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, about 21,000 babies are stillborn each year in the United States.

Losing a child is an unexpected, disturbing and unfair type of grief, so speaking is necessary to help those experiencing it, experts say.

“We all anticipate that one day we will have to say goodbye to our parents,” David Kessler, grief expert and founder of Grief.com, previously told USA TODAY. “We don't expect to say goodbye to our kids.”

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Gina Moffa, a licensed clinical social worker and author of Moving On Doesn't Mean Letting Go, told USA TODAY in December 2023 that the grieving process of losing a child is a gradual journey. He said there is.