TLC’s ‘Counting On’ Couple Celebrate Birth of New Rainbow Baby Girl After Miscarriage

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For a couple recovering from the trauma of a miscarriage, there’s no better way to heal than having another child. Thus, when Josiah and Lauren (Swanson) Duggar, of the TLC show “Counting On” (2015–2019), welcomed their new daughter Bella Milagro to the world on Nov. 8, 2019, it was an extra-special moment.

“When we finally got to see and hold our precious Bella Milagro all the pain [of the miscarriage] instantly went away,” the couple told US Weekly. “We can’t believe she is ours—she is so perfect!”

The couple, who have been married since 2018, suffered greatly from the loss of their baby, whom they named Asa, in February 2018. Dad Josiah, 23, explained on “Counting On,” “[I]t really was a hard time for our family going through this right after we got married. And all the dreams of getting to see our little one and hold it in our hands dashed before our eyes.”

For Lauren, 20, it was one of the saddest experiences of her life. “It was definitely something I was questioning myself whether I should share our miscarriage,” she told Fox News. “But you know a lot of people go through this and a lot of people face it in silence. And I just wanted to bring hope to a lot of people that go through this—that they’re not alone.”

Josh supported his wife’s decision as part of the grieving process for them and also to help other mothers feel less alone. “A lot of women don’t share it. And they keep it in,” he said to Fox. “Our doctor really encouraged us [to speak out ...] That helps with the healing.”

But the best medicine proved to be getting pregnant again.

Using the idea of a “rainbow baby,” a child coming after a miscarriage, as a visual concept, the couple, while Lauren was still pregnant, took pictures for People Magazine with a sign that read, “Rainbow after the storm. Baby #2.”

When Lauren was nine weeks pregnant, after announcing that they were expecting to the rest of the family on an episode of  “Counting On,” the couple were glad to have everyone’s support. Lauren shared:

“We have been trying for quite a while after the miscarriage, and when we found we were expecting, literally we were shocked. Life is very precious and we are so thankful for this, maybe a little nervous at times, but we’re just going to be grateful.”

When delivery day finally came, the couple was proud to show off their new arrival, their “beautiful miracle.” Yet, they haven’t forgotten the baby they lost. When they originally announced their new pregnancy, the couple wrote in an Instagram post, “[A]s we rejoice of the life of our second sweet baby, we also remember [...] our other sweet baby, Asa, in heaven.”

While Bella’s arrival was sweet, Lauren spent a long time in labor. Their little girl arrived into the world weighing 6 pounds, 5 ounces (approx. 3 kg) and measured 18.5 inches long.

In a statement written to USA Today, the couple wrote, “She definitely has lived up to her name which means, ‘beautiful miracle.’ Today we are basking in God’s goodness!”