It’s been less than three months since Joy-Anna Duggar and Austin Forsyth got married, but when Duggar women are involved, the pregnancy speculation begins pretty much immediately after the vows are exchanged.
In fact, in some cases, the rumor mill starts churning even before the couple says “I do.”
Reports of Joy-Anna and Austin breaking courtship rules were persistent in their first months together.
So perhaps it’s not surprising that some fans on social media began falsely reporting that Joy-Anna got pregnant before marriage, forcing her family to “fast-track” her wedding.
If that was the case, then the family has done an incredible job of keeping Joy-Anna’s pregnancy under wraps.
What seems more likely is that Joy-Anna and Austin leaked a false wedding date and got married ahead of schedule in order to throw fans off their trail.
Whatever the case, the newlyweds returned from their honeymoon last month to find they’ve taken centerstage in the minds of many Duggar fans.
Not only are Joy-Anna and Austin prominently featured in the promotional materials for the new season of Counting On, they’re the new favorite topic of conversation for Duggar obsessives on social media.
Naturally, much of the gossip centers around the possibility that Joy-Anna is expecting.
Some fans believe the fact that TLC is shining such a bright spotlight on the couple in the new Counting On promos is proof that they’re expecting.
“Maybe she is pregnant!” wrote one fan in the comments for a recent Facebook post by the network.
“Then there definitely [will] be more episodes!”
It’s bizarre that we associate babies with reality TV storylines and increased ratings, but this is the world the Duggars have built for themselves.
Of course, not all of the talk surrounding Joy-Anna and Austin’s relationship has to do with pregnancy.
Duggar daughters aren’t allowed to have their own social media pages until they get engaged, but Joy-Anna hasn’t been able to fully take advantage of that new freedom even after tying the knot.
She and Austin have a joint Instagram account, and many fans believe it’s his way of keeping a closer eye on his new wife.
“Let her have her own Instagram,” one fan recently commented on a picture of the couple.
“If there’s no trust then you shouldn’t be married! Also why does she have to wear skirts?? She has said she doesn’t like them but you do. Don’t be controlling.”
Yes, now that Jinger Duggar is wearing pants, it seems fans are expecting all Duggar women to have more freedom.
Sadly, that seems unlikely, as the religious movement the family adheres to remains deeply rooted in patriarchal rule.
So for the foreseeable future, we’re guessing Joy-Anna will continue to wear floor-length skirts at all times.
Watch Counting On online for more from TV’s most controversial family.