Jill Duggar says motherhood is different from what she had expected

19 Kids and Counting star Jill Duggar, who is currently enjoying the joys of motherhood for the first time is realising that being a mum is actually different from what she had expected.

Jill might have had a lot of experience caring for her 15 younger siblings and other babies, and she is also a student midwife.  But since her son Israel David Dillard came along, Jill found out that there are some things people need to experience first hand in order to understand them better.

"There are a lot of things that seem different than I thought they would be," Jill, 23, told PEOPLE. "I have just asked my mom a lot of questions about what is normal and what to expect."

Her mum Michelle, 48 is a pro when it comes to caring for kids since she has raised 19 with husband Jim Bob, 49. She has been through pregnancy, birth, nursing, and recovery from four cesarean sections, so Jill is definitely asking the right person.

"I call out to my mom and ask things like, 'Is this feeling normal?' and, 'How long should I nurse?'" said Jill. "Israel's a little boy, he will eat all the time, so I was asking if 20 minutes a feeding was long enough or too much, and how all of it should go."

As for Jill's husband Derick, she feels like he has really stepped up to the plate when it comes to caring for their son and Jill has raved about him being "such a good Dad."

"He is doing an amazing job helping out with nighttime diaper changes," shared Jill. "I'll start nursing and when I'm done, he'll take the baby and change his diaper and put him to bed. That is his little routine."

Jill added that baby Israel has been "pretty good" to his parents by sleeping through the night on several occasions. "He actually slept for a seven-hour stretch, he's done that a couple of times. You never know. I'm not counting on it," she said.

related articles
Why Jill and Derick Dillard chose the name Israel David for their son
Why Jill and Derick Dillard chose the name Israel David for their son

The land of Israel holds so much significance to 19 Kids and Counting's Jill and Derick Dillard, and that is why they decided to name their first born son Israel David.

Jill Dillard says she prayed throughout 70-hr delivery of baby Israel
Jill Dillard says she prayed throughout 70-hr delivery of baby Israel

Jill and Derick Dillard shared details of their son's birth in an intimate interview published Wednesday.

Jill Duggar talks unexpected C-section, Derick says there is \'no shame\' in it
Jill Duggar talks unexpected C-section, Derick says there is 'no shame' in it

Jill Dillard's 70-hour delivery ended with an unexpected Caesarean section

Derick Dillard pens biblical letter for baby Israel David
Derick Dillard pens biblical letter for baby Israel David

New dad Derick Dillard shared a letter he wrote to his son on the Dillard family blog last week.

Jessa Duggar is getting some good pregnancy advice from big sis Jill
Jessa Duggar is getting some good pregnancy advice from big sis Jill

Jessa Seewald's pregnancy journey has just begun, but she can rely on her mother and sister, Jill Dillard, for plenty of advice on what to expect while she is expecting.

Jill Duggar\'s husband Derick Dillard admits becoming a dad has been a \'steep\' learning curve
Jill Duggar's husband Derick Dillard admits becoming a dad has been a 'steep' learning curve

Before he met his son Israel David, Derick Dillard from 19 Kids and Counting has never changed a diaper to save his life. But his son's arrival has turned Derick from a novice into an expert pretty quickly, and this new dad is now sharing his experiences with his son, and what he has learned from it.

News
‘Major achievement’ hailed as Israeli officials step in to stop anti-Christian harassment
‘Major achievement’ hailed as Israeli officials step in to stop anti-Christian harassment

Harassment against Christian is sometimes justified by appeals to the Jewish religion.

What do Christian young women and men need to know about the opposite sex and themselves?
What do Christian young women and men need to know about the opposite sex and themselves?

The first thing that Christian young women and men need to know is that the Bible is the operating manual for humans.

Saxon church saved from Historic England’s ‘at risk’ register after extensive repairs
Saxon church saved from Historic England’s ‘at risk’ register after extensive repairs

Historic England has added 197 sites to its Heritage at Risk Register. However it has also managed to save dozens of buildings, including a 1,000-year-old church.

Trump’s midterm defeat and its implications for Christians on both sides of the Atlantic
Trump’s midterm defeat and its implications for Christians on both sides of the Atlantic

America’s power and influence on the world stage, combined with Trump’s unpredictability and volatility, is a worrying mix.