Joy-Anna Duggar’s family is growing, and her three older children couldn’t be more excited. The Counting On alum, 28, announced on September 1, 2026, that she is expecting her fourth baby with husband Austin Forsyth. Just days later, she shared the heartwarming moment she told her children—sons Gideon, 8, and Gunner, 3, and daughter Evelyn, 5—about the pregnancy. The children’s reaction was one of pure joy, with Joy-Anna revealing that they had been praying for a baby brother or sister for a long time.
Here’s everything we know about the pregnancy, the children’s sweet reaction, and what Joy-Anna has shared about this exciting new chapter for the Forsyth family.
On September 1, 2026, Joy-Anna shared a series of photos on Instagram announcing that she and her husband, Austin Forsyth, are expecting their fourth child. The photos showed Joy-Anna cradling her growing baby bump while Austin wrapped his arms around her from behind. In another image, the couple kissed while holding up sonogram photos. “Coming 2027!! So much joy, so much excitement, and so much love for this little one already. God knew we needed you 🤍,” they wrote.
The announcement came shortly after Joy-Anna opened up about the emotional toll of her 2019 pregnancy loss on her sister Jinger Duggar’s podcast. She described the loss of her daughter Annabell at 20 weeks as “extremely hard” and admitted that she experienced a period of depression following the stillbirth. “That was extremely hard. I felt like, at first, I was like, ‘I’m going to be strong and I’m going to push through this.’ But after the dust settled and, like, a new normal had to start happening, it was really hard,” she reflected.
Joy-Anna Duggar is the ninth oldest child of Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar, who rose to fame on TLC’s 19 Kids and Counting and its spinoff, Counting On. She married Austin Forsyth in May 2017, and the couple have built a life together in rural Arkansas with their growing family.
Austin Forsyth, 32, works in construction and real estate. The couple met when they were children after his family moved to the area, and Joy-Anna has previously described having a “crush” on him when she was 14. They have been open about their faith and family values, which remain central to their parenting and decision-making.
Gideon (age 8): The couple’s firstborn, Gideon is the oldest sibling and has eagerly embraced the role of big brother. Joy-Anna previously shared that he is “suddenly looking so grown up,” and he participated in taking the pregnancy announcement photos.
Evelyn (age 5): The couple’s only daughter, Evelyn, is described by Joy-Anna as a loving and helpful big sister. She has been involved in family moments and, like her older brother, helped snap some of the maternity photos.
Gunner (age 3): The youngest of the three, Gunner is at a delightful age of discovery and curiosity. Joy-Anna has shared sweet moments of his reactions to new experiences, and he is already on board with becoming a big brother.
On September 3, 2026, Joy-Anna shared a video on Instagram capturing the moment she and Austin told their children that another sibling was on the way. The clip shows the family in a car ride as Joy-Anna gently broke the news.
“You know how Mama and Papa told you guys, if we want a new baby we have to ask God for them?” she asked the children. “Well, God answered our prayers.” Gideon and Evelyn immediately burst into laughter and eagerly asked whether the family would be expecting a boy or a girl. “We don’t know,” Joy-Anna replied, adding that she hasn’t yet found out the baby’s sex. Austin chimed in, saying, “Lord willing, we’re going to have another baby.”
Joy-Anna wrote in the caption: “They are going to make the best big siblings. They’ve been praying for a baby brother or sister for a long time and since finding out they have been talking to and about their baby non-stop.”
The detail that the children had been praying for a sibling struck a chord with many fans. The emphasis on faith and prayer is central to the Duggar family’s values, and Joy-Anna’s post highlighted how important this pregnancy is for the entire family.
The children’s genuine excitement and immediate questions about the baby’s sex added a layer of relatability. It’s a universal experience for children to wonder whether they’ll get a brother or sister, and the Duggar children’s reaction was no exception. The video was a sweet, unscripted family moment that resonated with followers.
Joy-Anna’s pregnancy announcement came after she opened up about a devastating experience. In 2019, she suffered a stillbirth at 20 weeks and delivered her daughter, Annabell. She described the experience as “a really dark time” and admitted she “felt like I would never see light at the end of that tunnel.” The emotional toll of the loss was compounded by postpartum depression, and she spent months processing the grief.
“It wasn’t until a week later that we went into the hospital and delivered Annabell there,” she said during the July 2025 podcast episode. “That was extremely hard, going through the whole delivery process.” She also revealed that she was nervous to become pregnant again after the loss. “I’d have this battle in my mind, almost, of, like, ‘I’m so scared. I’m not going to get excited.’ But then I would go to the other side of, like, ‘Well, I don’t need to be controlled by that,'” she explained.
Joy-Anna has been transparent about the pregnancy and her decision to wait to announce it. “It’s [definitely] been challenging keeping it under wraps b/c [because] I feel like, with each pregnancy, I show sooner,” she noted on her Instagram Stories on September 2, 2026. “But, having a lil time for us to soak this in quietly as a family has been so special.” She also shared that her children helped take the maternity photos. “Decided to have the kids take these photos for us on a whim,” she wrote. “They turned out to be so cute.”
Austin Forsyth has been a supportive presence throughout the announcement. He appeared alongside Joy-Anna in the pregnancy photos and was shown smiling down at her belly and embracing her from behind. In the video, he expressed his excitement, saying, “Lord willing, we’re going to have another baby.” His reaction was a reflection of the couple’s shared joy and faith.
This pregnancy adds another grandchild to the Duggar family. According to reports, Joy-Anna’s fourth baby will be Jim Bob and Michelle Duggar’s 43rd grandchild. The news comes as the Duggar family continues to grow, with another daughter, Johannah, recently announcing her engagement. The Duggar family remains a point of interest for fans of the reality TV shows.
The Forsyth family is preparing to welcome their newest member in 2027. Joy-Anna has shared that the children have been “talking to and about their baby non-stop” since they found out. The family will likely continue to document their journey on social media, as they have with previous pregnancies. Details about the baby’s sex and name are expected to be shared later.
Yes, Joy-Anna Duggar is pregnant with her fourth child. She announced the pregnancy on September 1, 2026.
Yes, Joy-Anna Duggar and her husband Austin Forsyth are expecting their fourth child together.
Joy-Anna Duggar is married to Austin Forsyth.
Joy-Anna Duggar has three children: Gideon, 8, Evelyn, 5, and Gunner, 3. She is currently pregnant with her fourth.
Her children were thrilled. They had been praying for a sibling and immediately asked if the baby was a boy or a girl.
Her children are Gideon (age 8), Evelyn (age 5), and Gunner (age 3).
Her children are Gideon, Evelyn, and Gunner.
She announced her pregnancy on September 1, 2026.
Joy-Anna has not yet announced the sex of the baby.
The baby is due in 2027, but a specific date has not been shared.
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