Jill Duggar, Derick Dillard Share Baby Israel's First Photo Album, Reveals Birth Details
Jill Duggar and Derick Dillard's baby is only a week old, but little Israel David has already spent a lot of time in front of the camera as his parents posted his first photo album to DillardFamily.com, which gives fans a glimpse of the baby's first days at home.
One photo shows baby Israel donning a grey and white striped onesie and a pair of dark shades, while another photo shows him fast asleep while being cuddled by his smiling mom, surrounded by his aunts. One photo features Israel being carried by his dad in a baby carrier while Jill sits close to them on a wheelchair.
Meanwhile, Jill has revealed to People magazine their dramatic journey to parenthood. In their announcement video, Jill said that the birth "didn't go as expected," and now, she details what happened while she was in labor.
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Jill said that she hoped for a natural delivery at her home in Rogers, Arkansas, but Israel's birth didn't go as planned. She said that when her March 24 due date passed, she didn't get discouraged.
"I told myself first time moms often go a week and a half in labor," said the 23 year old, who is a trained midwife. She also said that she turned to spicy foods to help bring on labor.
Finally, 41 weeks and five days into her pregnancy, Jill's water broke, but complications followed. She told People that she tested positive for strep B, a common bacteria that can be transferred from mom to baby during birth, and that she began taking antibiotics via an intravenous drip.
After 20 hours in labor and seeing a faint stain of meconium (the waste of an unborn infant), she decided that it was time to go to the hospital.
"I was praying to God to give me strength," she said. "I was really scared and nervous, but I was praying."
Jill said that she declined pain medication, but after 70 hours in labor, the baby was in a sideways and upside down position and was experiencing irregular heart rates. At that, the couple decided to move forward with a C-section and welcomed their baby, who weighed 9 pounds and 10 ounces.
"I love our birth story because it bonded us so well," said Jill.
Fans of "19 Kids and Counting" can see the birth of baby Israel David on the May 5 episode of the show.
