During a routine pregnancy check-up on Thursday, Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar’s joyful anticipation turned to heartbreak.
The couple, who rose to fame on the TLC reality program 19 Kids and Counting, suffered a miscarriage in the second trimester of Michelle’s pregnancy. According to People, the Duggars were expecting to find out the sex of their baby during the Thursday appointment.
STORY: ’19 Kids and Counting’ Mother Suffers Miscarriage
“After the appointment, we came back home and told the children,” the 45-year-old mother said. “We had just been talking about baby names last night and they were getting excited about naming a boy or a girl. It has been a real sad disappointment.”
She said that the family intends to choose a name once they find out whether the baby was a boy or girl, and will follow up with a funeral service.
“I feel like my heart broke telling the children,” Michelle said. “They have all been so excited about this baby and looking forward to April coming around and having a new little one in our arms. That was the most difficult. The Lord is the giver of life and he can choose when that life is ready to go on and be with Him.”
VIDEO: ’19 Kids and Counting’ Mom Michelle Duggar Expecting 20th Child
Michelle’s last pregnancy, with two-year-old daughter Josie, was marred with complications, including gall-bladder problems and preeclampsia, giving birth to the infant three months prematurely. This is the second miscarriage for the couple, who previously lost a child during Michelle’s second pregnancy. At the time, Michelle had been using oral contraceptives and sources the situation as the reason behind leaving the number of children that they have “up to God.”
The family appeared on NBC’s Today Show in November to announce that they were expecting.
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