Ben Seewald, Spurgeon Seewald, Henry Seewald
Rumors have been circulating, especially when the mom of two wears a baggy shirts or engages in discussions about pregnancy with fellow moms and moms-to-be. But the rumor is just that, a rumor, as Jessa has confirmed that she is not expecting. In the past, she and Ben have expressed a desire to have a large family, as well as to adopt.
Photo courtesy theseewaldfamily.com
Maten they are finally busy with adoption. Watching old episodes Counting on with a lot content about their adoption plans feels a bit awkward knowing it didn't happened because she got very quickly pregnant with Henry. So it would be logical they postpone new pregnancy if they really want to adopt.
ReplyDeleteThey might need a bigger house to qualify to adopt. Usually you need something like 50 square feet of space per child in a bedroom so their small house may not accommodate more than the current 2 kids in the spare room and it's only a 2 bedroom house and the room is 10 x 10. Also, there are income requirements and if Ben is just in school and no paid employment, they may not meet the income requirements yet until he is a full time pastor. But, maybe if these things hold them back it will encourage them to get a bigger house and paid employment!
DeleteI didn’t realize Ben was in Seminary
DeleteNo paid employment? Do you think they do the show for fee? I bet they are doing fine financially.
DeleteI just love this picture of Jessa's three boys 😀
ReplyDelete2 boys.
DeleteLOL, U ARE SOOO RIGHT!!!!!
DeleteJessa’s 3 boys? She has two sons and a husband.
DeleteSo agree@9:03. My husband is not a “boy”, and certainly not one of my “boys”. Big difference between them.
DeleteWow you people are judgemental. When my husband calls me (his wife) and our daughter, his girls, I think it is cute and it is said out of love.
DeleteMaybe, maybe not.
DeleteI hope everyone will remember that laughter is from God, OK!!!!!!
DeleteThank you for the clarification. I find it very rude for people speculate, suggest and pressure a couple about when they will have another child. I’m sure Ben and Jessa will proudly announce their next kiddo when the time comes.
ReplyDeleteI ignore any pregnancy rumors concerning the Duggars. They are always eager to tell us all about any pregnancy that occurs.
DeleteI don't think it's rude, considering having babies is basically the Duggar claim to fame and fortune. Not knocking it, but call a spade a spade.
DeleteDitto 😁
DeleteI totally agree and this is a very cute picture!!
Delete5:16, I would say if Michelle was still young enough to have kids, speculating about her being pregnant would be fine, but it’s rude to do so with her kids. Not everyone wants twenty kids, and telling a young woman that she looks pregnant when she’s not is very rude.
DeleteVery mature of them to clear up the rumour. I’m sure they treasure their lovely family
ReplyDeleteHonestly I thought how thin she's looking now, thinner than she ever was before. But I know she's been restricting her diet because of Henry's allergies. Journos will look for any little thing to start a rumour on.
ReplyDeleteAnon @ 3:54 Its not only 'journos'who start rumours, a lot of rumours start with over zealous fans.
DeleteFans were the ones speculating about whether she is pregnant and then it was picked up by gossip websites and mags. You can see the gossip in the blog comments featuring Jinger and Jessa talking about the gender reveal. We can all be better so crazy rumors don't get spread around.
DeleteJessa's public comments regarding her weight, diet, and body image have made it clear she has some disordered thoughts around the issue.
DeleteI used to take journalism.. ugh.. those rag mags are ridiculous
DeleteThanks to the dearth of Duggar doings, rumors are being addressed. LOL
ReplyDeleteThanks for the update Ellie.
ReplyDeleteI sure Ben and Jessa will adopt when they are ready. There is plenty of time:) Also, when the time is right for them, they will have more biological children. Jessa is a good mother!
ReplyDeleteI hope they wait a while. Is Ben going to school or pursuing career opportunities? He’s still very young but seems to be a great daddy & helpful husband.
ReplyDeleteTHANK YOU FOR CLEARING THAT UP SENDING BLESSING TO YOUR FAMILY
ReplyDeleteThere were first-hand reports that she had a noticeable baby bump earlier this year. I hope nothing happened to a pregnancy.
ReplyDeleteIt can take quit a while to lose a baby bump especially after 2 kiddos back to back...I was 5 years loaing mine 😁
DeleteShe has said throughout the year that she was not pregnant, and was having a hard time losing weight. A first hand report would have been from someone related to her, not an “anonymous friend”
DeleteThank you too for announcing that Jessa is NOT pregnant as the rumors have become ridiculous. People have even speculated that Jessa must have been pregnant and then had a miscarriage, and that's why she never announced it.
ReplyDeleteAlso, while I hope for Jessa's sake this does not apply to her, there is such a thing as secondary infertility. Something to consider before asking questions about when a couple is going to have more children.
Maybe she is pregnant and doesn't know it herself yet
DeleteThey seem like such wonderful, loving parents!! GREAT role models to a watching world!!
ReplyDeleteWill they use birth control to prevent pregnancy so they can adopt? I doubt it!!
ReplyDeleteThey think BC pills are wrong, that doesn’t mean they think all forms are bad.
DeleteI think that is none of your business. Or as my grandmother used to say 'why do you need to know?'
DeleteMargaret, your grandmother was right, and my mom gave me similar advice. But in this case, when the family has built their fame and fortune off of having babies -- as many as God wills -- it's a legit question.
Delete1:18, that’s how her parents built their fame and fortune, that doesn’t mean Jessa is planning the same thing. Even if she once was, the number of children you want can change after you actually start your family.
DeleteI find it extremely rude for someone to study a woman's belly and to speculate a pregnancy based off of what you see. I'm sure many of you would not like it if it was done to you. I carry my weight in my middle and have been through the humiliation of people asking me if I was expecting or not even asking, just assuming. It's embarrassing and hurtful. I have left a gathering and cried from this. Please be respectful. Also, to assume that just because the Duggar woman don't use birth control, they will automatically be pregnant at a certain time, this is equally insensitive. I have a 7 year gap between two of my children because my body just couldn't get pregnant again. Watching month after month, year after year pass by, longing for a baby, is one of the hardest things to go through. Never assume always use compassion.
ReplyDeleteI actually don't think this rumor was based on people looking at Jessa and judging her as "so fat she must be pregnant". I think it's based on faulty assumptions that all Duggars are very fertile and are guaranteed to have a baby every 1-2 years like Michelle did, so Jessa just HAS to be pregnant since it's been a year and change since Henry was born.
DeleteSo of course people start speculating that she's hiding her pregnancy out of manipulative PR motives, or even that she must have been pregnant and lost the baby.
I think that one somewhat unfortunate impression the Duggars and Bates might give people is that ALL women would wind up with 19 children if they didn't use birth control. 19 Children is actually pretty rare. Not even most other IBLP families have that many. I think the Paines have a dozen. Others tend to have close to, but not quite, ten.
11:39, it could be that, except people have said “she LOOKS like she’s expecting”
DeleteThere was also the “Fake News” story that a girl said she went to a mommy group and Jessa was there and “she definitely had a baby bump, about 4 months along”. So this chick probably got paid by a gossip mag to share that info about Jessa only to find it is a lie. Just like all the rumors of Joy-Anna’s shotgun wedding and pregnancy out of wedlock, all LIES!! Too bad people gotta spread FAKE NEWS.
DeleteI wouldn't just blame "fake news" or "the media" for the age-old sin of GOSSIP that many fans have engaged in. Some who post here actually live in the same town as the Duggars and have attested that people were speculating about when Joy Anna got pregnant, and the same with people speculating about Jessa being pregnant again.
DeleteSo I'm sure this kind of gossip would be going on to some extent, even if the Duggars were just "the big family who owns a lot of Fayetteville". But since they are "public figures" in the age of social media, it is of course much more widespread than it would be otherwise.
I'm thankful that Jessa's body is having a little break and she can focus on raising her 2 beautiful boys. I wonder why they felt the need to dispel this rumour. Many other rumours about Duggars are not addressed here and perhaps they could be.
ReplyDeleteYou could tell Jessas feelings were hurt over it. When people constantly say you look pregnant when you’re not it’s extremely offensive.
DeleteTo tell a Duggar that they look pregnant is probably a compliment.
Delete10:35, not Jessa, she’s made it clear that she has issues with how she views her body, so people saying she looks pregnant is EXTREMELY rude
DeleteNot a joke, true story- I was at the Lab today to have some blood work done. An elderly lady asked a young lady when her baby was due. The young lady said, Oh, I'm not pregnant, I'm just fat. The elderly lady said, I'm sorry and the young lady smiled and said, Oh, that's okay.)) I didn't think the young lady was pregnant. I can mostly tell if their pregnant by the way their sitting, moving in their seat or what their doing with their hands...Jane.
Delete7:22 -- It's great the girl at the lab spoke up. Even an elderly person can learn manners.
Delete1:20, I agree, I don’t care how old you are, you don’t ask someone “when they’re due” unless they already told you they’re pregnant.
DeleteJessa can't win. If she wears a loose shirt, she "must" be pregnant, but of course she can't wear a tight shirt either.
ReplyDeleteWhat is she trying to win?
Delete6:40 wearing shorts without being judged
DeleteWhat does she have to win you ask? Simple fairness would be nice.
Delete6:40 - It's a figure of speech, dearie.
DeleteHaving a desire to adopt is great. Realistically, however, having more biological children would have to be put on hold for awhile- at least at some point. Somehow I don't invision them doing that.
ReplyDeleteWhy not? They aren’t her parents, they can make their own decisions with kids.
Delete4:12- Not sure what your point may be. I think it only fair to an adopted child if the adoptive parents are devoting as much of their time and energy as possible toward that relationship bond, without the added stress of having a new biological child at the same time.
Delete4:52, I meant that OP doesn’t know Jessa and Ben would be willing to put more bio kids on hold, while they are pursuing adoption, and have young adopted kids.
DeleteI hope they are going to follow through with their plan to adopt, they mentioned it many times in earlier episodes. A little sister for the boys would be nice.
ReplyDeleteOr a little brother
DeleteNo what?
DeleteA little sister for the boys would be great. I hope they adopt before having more of their own.There are so many children needing forever homes, hope they do it after talking about it so many times.
ReplyDelete(THIS IS A JOKE)LOL!!! Ben wanted to have 15 sons, so they can't have any girls, lol!!!
DeleteI'm not sure how eligible they would be for adoption, without stable income or even a home of their own.
Delete6:39, you don’t know their income, and you don’t have to be a homeowner to adopt
DeleteRight, there are minimum size requirements per child per bedroom and minimum income requirements per member of the family. I don't think the house will qualify unless the spare bedroom is 150 square feet or more. The TLC income may be ok, since Ben is just in school right now and may not have outside income.
DeleteI bet they have much more money than most people there age.they might not be getting rich from the show anymore but I bet they still have a lot. Plus, don't forget what they probably made on there book that was done at the height of there popularity.
DeleteShe should take some more time. Recent photo's made by her show that 2 is already hard for her.
ReplyDeleteIt not that they’re two, it’s their ages. Small kids at that age are hard.
DeleteWell all kids begin at those ages, so adding another is bound to bring you one that age! Unless you adopt an older child.
Delete5:08, yes but my point is that it’s not the number
DeletePoster meant 2 kids are hard work for her.. adding a adopted kid with who knows what background is crazy..
DeleteDon't be dramatic. Just because she is honest about the challenges of 2 young kids doesn't mean she can't handle more. I guess that's the thanks she gets for being honest. People like you exaggerate and use her honesty against her.
DeleteAnonymous @ 6:49- Not quite sure how to take your comment "..adding a adopted kid who knows what background is crazy..". Granted some adopted children come from horrible situations and have special issues and some have bonding issues. However, some adopted children have better "backgrounds" and less issues than some "natural" children. Please be careful not to paint them all with the same wide strokes. - Sister to an adopted brother
Delete6:49. Some of my children are adopted and some are not. As they are all my children I forgot which ones are which. You, however, will never be forgotten for being rude, offensive, and ignorant.
Delete10:22, I fully agree with you. I know MANY apodpted children, and while some of the ones I know have problems or some sort, not all of them do. However, most children adopted from foster care have attachment problems, unless they were put in foster care from birth onwards, and are adopted by their first foster family or a similar situation.
DeleteThe Duggars dropping in and out of those orphanages in Central America all the time doesn't do anything to help with the attachment problems either.
Delete11:49, people visiting kids at an orphanage, and actually living with someone for months on end, only to be ripped out of that home and be put back with your biological parents, only to a lot of the time be put BACK in foster care with a new set of parents, is not the same thing and doesn’t come abuse the same kind of trauma
DeleteI disagree 5:38. The volunteers that visit the orphanages do just as much harm to the vulnerable children there who are suffering from the same attachment disorders, fears, and distrust of outsiders. If you read the accounts of the returning volunteers who have witnessed this and changed their minds about ever going there again, you'd understand. The books, studies, and films made about this problem all say the same thing. Orphanages are not tourist destinations for unskilled volunteers.
Delete5:38- I am an adoptive parent and have to say that you are misinformed- volunteers who come and go in orphanages only add to the pattern of abandonment these children experience. It's a cumulative thing- eventually, some of the children learn not to trust and it becomes increasingly difficult for them to bond, should they eventually be adopted.
DeleteWhy not enjoy time with these childeren? And just be happy to have time for individual needs of a child.
ReplyDeleteThat's not the Duggar way. They seem to want as many children as they can birth. Something about "having as many children as God gives you".
DeleteNot only their emotional needs, but their physical needs, too, which requires a steady income a.k.a. a job that pays enough to support your entire family. And in this case, it has to be the man who has the income-producing job, since women have their job, staying home to take care of kids. Can Ben support 5, 6, 7.......???
DeleteI agree
DeleteThey ARE enjoying time with their current children, that doesn’t mean they can’t talk about planning to adopt in the future. I know a family who was planning on adopting from the beginning of their marriage, but they didn’t until their first two bio kids were 5 and 3, then they adopted a baby. Now they have five children, three bio, two adopted.
DeleteSome women can get addicted to
DeletePregnancy and babies. I always had baby euphoria for about a year and a half after my kids were born. Like total bliss. And then I’d get pregnant (and go thru total misery for 9 months) and then baby bliss again. Every time I saw my newborn babies I immediately wanted another one. Can’t explain it. So I think Michelle possibly experienced this feeling of excitement of pregnancy and babies. And it gave her a sense of self-worth and purpose in relation to her husband. And I think she did it for Jim Bob, to bless him. I’ve had my children as a way to bless my husband and show him my love for him. And I want my children to have more siblings because of seeing the fun times they share as a big family. The Duggars influenced me to literally have more kids than I intended to. I owe my family size to the Duggars! Thank You for your encouragement Michelle!
Of they are real about adoption they should not get pregnant for a long time. Of they get pregnant again then stop talking about adoption. It is not nice for real adoption of waiting parents.
ReplyDeleteHenry was not a planned on baby, they have said this before. She probably got pregnant before she had her first cycle after giving birth to Spurgeon, so wasn’t trying to use any form of BC at that time.
DeleteAnon @ 4:15 The Duggars do not believe in preventing pregnancy, leaving the size of their family up to God. If that is true for the Seewalds no child can unplanned as they can expect to be pregnant at least once a month.
DeleteI'm not sure what is wrong with wanting to adopt. It's a great way to encourage others. It is consistent with their anti-abortion beliefs. I see no down side whatsoever for Jessa to say she would like to adopt. In the past, many people adopted children of the same age as their biological children. I know many people now in their 50s and 60s who were adopted like this. Modern rules in Canada and the USA make it very difficult for children to be adopted but that is not Jessa's fault. She is just following the rules like everyone else.
DeleteNothing wrong with wanting to adopt but they seem to use it to sound as if they are so generous of spirit but never follow through. There's a difference between wanting to adopt and actually doing it. If they are that dedicated, become foster parents. Something doesn't add up with how often they say it but don't follow through.
DeleteThey need to be less real about adoption...
Delete4:55, fostering is VERY rough. Kids come with all kinds of problems, and not everyone is cut out for that.
DeleteMy oldest 2 are 14 months apart and by God's timing my 2nd son will be 29 months older than new baby. When he was 6 and 7 months old i started looking for the next baby. But months went by. I can imagine her thoughts, is she experiencing secondary infertility, is she done? Has she miscarried and will not know this side of Heaven of a little one waiting for her. Remember not everyone in the Bible had many children. Niomi only had 3.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if they’re working on their adoption plan. Either that or they’ll be announcing a pregnancy before the end of this year. Guess we’ll have to wait and find out.🤷🏻♀️
ReplyDeleteHopefully a pregnancy
Delete6:50..that was rude.
DeleteI doubt they would quality to adopt. Ben does not have a real job, it cost thousands to adopt. I doubt they have the money to do that unless the Duggars pay for it. Jessa has always said they are a lot of work why bring more into the world if you cant take care of the ones you have with out help.
ReplyDeleteYou can adopt from foster care where the state pays the fees but you may most likely won't get an infant and may not want to adopt out of birth order.
DeleteExactly!
DeleteThat child will always wonder why he or she looks different than their siblings...
DeleteRidiculous, I am sure reality TV has paid then well, and that is perfectly acceptable. Plus I believe Ben is taking classes to be a minister or something similar. He is still young and hasn't finished school yet.
DeleteAnonymous @ 6:53 PM- Not necessarily. My adopted older brother looks so much like me that it's rare for anyone to believe us when we tell someone he's adopted. Even his fiancee (at the time) had trouble believing he was adopted. The really odd thing was, years later, how much his first son looked like my dad!
Delete6:53PM: Um, the era of adoption being kept a deep dark secret is long gone. And that's even referring to "normal" families who don't have camers following them around. I am sure that if Jessa and Ben adopt children they will inform them about their origins. So they are not going to "always wonder why he or she looks different".
Delete6:53, you obviously know no adoptive families🙄
Delete4:56, I don’t think you’re even allowed to adopt out of birth order in Arkansas
Delete10:50- yes I do :)
DeleteThey should adopt in the U.S.
DeleteI know a teen who was adopted and killed his parents
DeleteAt this point in time I think adoption is just a "feel good" story. They may decide to go through with an adoption in the future. It would be nice if they adopted out of the foster care system rather than going for an infant that looks just like them
DeleteThe TLC is not a career or permanent job. The show can be cancelled at any time. Ben needs an actual 9 to 5 stable job before the couple can be considered as adoptive parents.
DeleteThere are not as many children available to adopt as people think. Countries are increasing putting a stop or increasing the barriers to overseas and cross border adoptions. They can cost a great deal of money and take years.
Domestically, increase use of birth control, preference to keep children with family and within the same ethnic and racial background and less society stigma against unwed pregnancy means that there are less children available.
2:59 - Your anecdote doesn't mean that adopted kids are more likely to kill their parents. There have been plenty of news stories where teens and adults killed their biological parents. An adopted kid isn't less of a person because of their birth parents' decision. Society can't stigmatize adoption and view children put up for adoption as potentially dangerous people if we want pregnant women to view adoption as a viable option.
Delete2:58, then your comment was not very wise
DeleteUmm, in this day and age, families are not straight down the middle. There are the His, Mine, and Ours families, the families where moms have had a different baby with every boyfriend they had, the absent father families, it’s a mess out there. As a newborn nurse I saw it all, including all the babies born drug addicted and placed into foster care. Lots of children need homes and not all families have to look alike.
DeleteDo what God leads you to do!
And that goes for all of US
Not just a Duggar
anon 10:32 - no job/career is permanent. Anyone can lose a job. TV may be unusual but there is nothing wrong with it. besides, I am sure they have a good savings with the book and tv Jessa has done.
Delete@10:32, Don't forget about abortion. Millions of babies have been killed who might otherwise been available for adoption.
DeleteAwe sweet and cute pic of them
ReplyDeleteI believe Henry is starting to look like Jessa...Jane
ReplyDeletesomething was going on at their house yesterday cause when I passed it after 5, about 7 or 8 vehicles were there & I saw Ben at the front door.
ReplyDeleteWhen company comes a calling unless they walked there will be vehicles. It's not unusual for them to entertain friends.
DeleteThey have a large family perhaps they had a dinner get together. Why post such a speculative, pot stirring comment. “Something was going on at their house yesterday”.....I often have family over and lots of cars are parked outside. You make it sound like there was some sinister happening.
DeleteMaybe they were having guests for dinner. Do you spend your life watching the Duggar compound? You really need to find something productive to do.
DeleteHow is that any of your business to post?
DeleteWow -- lots of judgment against KathiG's basically innocent observation.
DeleteCalm down. The Duggars can have a family gathering without you becoming alarmed and suggesting there's "something going" on that is "bad".
DeleteThanks for that info Kathi, and ignore the other comments.
Delete@ anon 1:22. People are pretty dismissive of Kathi's observation as it is not perceived as "innocent"
Delete5:38 She said she was passing by.She wasn't sitting in her car with binoculars watching their every move. Good grief.
DeleteShe will have a girl this time.
ReplyDeleteShe’s not pregnant, and even if she was, you saying she’s having a girl wouldn’t make it so
DeleteShe should have a girl to help her with the boys
DeleteShe should adopt then she can choose a nice girl. With pregnancy they could have more boys
DeleteIt's disheartening to suggest that Jessa should give birth to or adopt a daughter so that she has help with her sons. Her sons are just as capable as any potential daughters to help with any housework. A daughter should not live to be in service of her brothers.
DeleteIs there a problem with having more boys? We have 9 boys, and they're wonderful!
DeleteTime 6:53AM Mon 5/7/18
ReplyDeleteHappy Monday thank you God It's a rumor I keep see videos on YouTube about Jessa getting pregnant for the 3rd time. Thank you Lily & Ellie for clearing that up.
Ellie should have this information sooner. A lot of people think she is having a 3rd girl soon.
DeleteWait a minute...she has 2 boys. How could she be expecting her 3rd girl?
Delete