Jessa Duggar and her husband Ben Seewald are expecting another baby. The former reality star shared the news on social media that she is expecting her fifth baby. But there are some critics who believe the timing of her announcement is suspect.
On September 9, Jessa shared a video on her YouTube channel announcing their new baby.
"After a heartbreaking loss last year, we are so grateful God has blessed us with a rainbow baby," Jessa shared on Instagram Stories along with a link.
The link took viewers to her new video on YouTube titled: "A Baby on the Way & Romantic Getaway!"
In the video, the couple share their pregnancy test and the news that their rainbow baby is on the way.
Jessa acknowledges her previous “heartbreaking loss,” the miscarriage she had the year before, and then shared her happier news.
"Just this past week we found out some wonderful news that our rainbow baby is on the way, and we could not be more excited," Jessa shared. While talking, the phrases "God is so kind," and "We're so thankful for the gift of this precious life" appeared onscreen.
In the caption of the video, Jessa and Ben expressed being grateful for their baby and time away.
“After a heartbreaking loss last year, we’re so thankful God has blessed us with a rainbow baby!” the caption read.
“Ben and I were able to take our first real getaway without the kids and it was so relaxing and refreshing to have this time together.”
Fans left their messages of congratulations in the comment section of the YouTube video.
"Looks like it was a very fun getaway for you and Ben," one fan wrote. "Congratulations on the newest little one."
"Congratulations on your rainbow baby! I'm so happy you got to have a relaxing vacation!" another commenter shared. "Looks like a lot of fun in the sun! Lots of dining experiences and touring the history of the area! God Bless!"
"Congratulations on your baby!" someone else added. "It looked like you and Ben had a wonderful time together. Ben running on the beach had me laughing so hard!"
On Reddit, however, critics really questioned the timing of Jessa’s news, with many predicting this would happen before they announced it.
In Reddit’s popular Duggar Snark community, critics felt an announcement was coming from one of the kids still close with their parents, Jim Bob and Michelle, because one of the estranged siblings has big news coming soon.
Jill Duggar, who is estranged from her parents and some siblings for being vocal against the treatment she says was at the hands of her parents, mostly Jim Bob, has a book release coming really soon.
'I knew it would be Jessa,' one person wrote about the pregnancy news.
“Leave it to good ol’ Jessa Blessa to do Jim Bob’s bidding of releasing ‘news’ the week of Jill’s book,” the Redditor continued. “Could it be just a coincidence?! Hell no the boring content in that video was shot in April.”
“If I were being nice, I could say that the pictures of Jessa being visibly pregnant from a couple of weeks ago was what sparked this,” another person wrote, speaking of the pregnancy rumors. “That being said, I'm really not convinced. Jessa has definitely benefited from Jill (and Josh) losing their father's favor, IMO. Do she and Jill still see each other at all?”
Another Reddit user commented that the announcement was planned. “That was all strategic. All that content is from March/April,” the person wrote. “She timed this release. It’s disgusting that she would do this to her sister.”
But some critics don’t think it’s going to work. “They’re gonna have to do something bigger to overshadow the book,” another person wrote.
Jill’s book, Counting the Cost, will hit bookstore shelves on September 12, 2023.
