Jessa Duggar Seewald is expecting her seventh child, and husband Ben learned the news while sitting in a golf cart. He later surprised her father and brothers by announcing it during a prayer before brunch.
The former 19 Kids and Counting star, 33, shared the news while appearing with Ben, 31, on the Unplanned Podcast. She told hosts Matt and Abby Howard that she was six weeks pregnant at the time of the recording.
A preview released October 27 showed the hosts reacting with surprise. The full October 28 episode included the couple’s account of telling relatives, along with a candid discussion of how they decided to have another baby.
Jessa and Ben, who married in November 2014, already have six children. Their youngest, Edward, is 15 months old, and Jessa said this latest pregnancy was planned.
A Pregnancy Test Photo Reached Ben on the Golf Course
Jessa told Ben by texting him a photograph of her positive pregnancy test while he was golfing with her brother Jed. Ben recalled glancing at his phone from the golf cart and being surprised by what he saw. During the Unplanned Podcast conversation, Jessa said she and Ben spoke about the news six hours later.
Ben also described telling her father, Jim Bob Duggar, and her brothers before brunch after golf. He volunteered to bless the food, then included an unexpected addition to the prayer. “Lord, thank you for this new baby on the way,” he recalled saying, prompting startled reactions around the table.
Ben Recalls a More Anxious Reaction to Baby No. 6
Asked whose idea it was to have another child, Jessa answered, “It’s always me.” She explained that she can find herself wanting another baby even while caring for a newborn.
Ben said he supported her wish to expand their family, recognizing that she would be carrying and delivering the child. Their experience when she became pregnant with Edward had been more difficult.
As Us Weekly reported, Ben said that pregnancy was unexpected. His immediate worries concerned money and whether he could give each child enough attention while continuing his ministry work.
His anxious response upset Jessa and made her cry. Ben said he felt awful afterward and spoke to a pastor friend about his regret. Looking back, he wished he had celebrated with her instead of letting his fears dominate the moment.
Jessa Describes How Ben Makes Time for Their Children
Jessa reassured Ben about his involvement at home, describing the effort he makes to spend time with the children. Almost every week, she said, he takes one or two of them out for breakfast.
She also described him wrestling with the children, playing board games, building with Legos and taking their daughters to get their nails done.
The couple’s children are Spurgeon, 10, Henry, 9, Ivy, 7, Fern, 5, George, 2, and Edward. According to People, Edward was born July 26, 2025. Jessa announced his arrival through birth-story videos the following month.
She Has Already Ruled Out Having 19 Children
Jessa addressed comparisons with her parents’ family in a May 8, 2025, YouTube Q&A, while expecting Edward. She said rude remarks about having more children generally came from people online, rather than anyone confronting her in person.
“I’m not going to have 19 kids,” she said, while explaining that she still considered her mother, Michelle Duggar, a role model.
In the remarks covered by Us Weekly, Jessa praised Michelle’s patience, gentleness and loving way of speaking to her children. She also said she did not want other people’s anticipated reactions to make her sound apologetic when sharing pregnancy news.
Earlier in that Q&A, Jessa said seven was a number she and Ben had discussed, although it was not a fixed target. In the latest podcast interview, she again said they make decisions about expanding their family one child at a time.