Jessa Duggar shares sweet photo of newborn daughter Fern after breaking family rules by giving birth in hospital

JESSA Duggar shared a sweet photo of her newborn daughter Fern after defying her strict family rules by giving birth in hospital.

The Counting On star, 29, posted a snap of the two-week-old sleeping in a light blue and white babygro.

Jessa put a sweet white bow in Fern's hair and wrapped her in a pink blanket in the adorable shot.

The mother-of-four captioned it: "Baby Fern is 2 weeks old!"

Her older sister Jill commented: "Aww!! Can’t wait to meet her!"

Jessa gave birth to Fern, her fourth child with husband Ben Seewald, last month at a hospital - after having home births with her three other children.

Giving birth in a hospital was a controversial choice as all the Duggar mothers typically welcome their children at home unless there are medical complications.

CONTROVERSIAL BIRTH

The Duggars are an extremely conservative Christian family, whose other values support no sex before marriage, no birth control and home-schooling your children.

Soon after the birth, Jessa also revealed she had an epidural and raved about the benefits of the process.

She said the pain-relieving procedure was "so worth it" - despite her parents Jim Bob and Michelle's strict beliefs against modern medicine.

"Even though I didn't get my epidural till the very last hour before she was delivered, I feel like it was still so worth it, " she said in a YouTube video.

"Not only did it help with my pushing phase, it took the pain out of it. What I was really excited about was not being able to feel the after-birth cramps."

PAIN RELIEF

"Because those things are awful and they get worse with each kid. So I was really excited not to be able to feel that and just be able to enjoy holding my baby."

The TLC star added: "And then all that massaging that the nurses do on your uterus - didn't feel it. It was nice!

"So the epidural definitely worked. Was so thankful."

Jim Bob, 56, and Michelle, 54, were quick to visit Jessa after the birth and take photos with baby Fern, who is their 10th granddaughter.

Jessa and Ben revealed in February that they were expecting, after having a "heartbreaking" miscarriage in 2020.

The reality stars told ET in a statement: ”After the heartbreaking loss of a baby last year, we’re overjoyed to share that another little Seewald is on the way!

"The pregnancy is going smoothly, and both baby and Jessa are doing well. We are so grateful to God for the precious gift of a new life! 

“The kids are delighted, and we can hardly wait to welcome this little one into our arms this summer."

Jessa and Ben tied the knot in 2014, after meeting in church as teenagers.