Jesse Ridgway and wife Ashley terminate pregnancy after Trisomy 21 diagnosis

• Jesse Ridgway and wife Ashley terminated their pregnancy following a Trisomy 21 Down syndrome diagnosis
• The couple had announced their pregnancy in March, just months after their October 2025 wedding
• Their baby was given a 95 per cent chance of being born with Down syndrome

YouTuber Jesse Ridgway and his wife Ashley have publicly disclosed that they made the painful decision to end their pregnancy after learning their baby had a high probability of being born with Down syndrome.

"This week, my wife and I made the very difficult decision to terminate the pregnancy due to Trisomy 21," the internet personality wrote via his Instagram Stories on Wednesday.

Trisomy 21, more commonly known as Down syndrome, is a genetic condition in which a person is born with an extra chromosome, according to the CDC.

"We are devastated"

Ridgway was candid about the emotional weight of the decision, making clear that it had not been reached hastily.

"The choice was not made lightly," he continued. "We are devastated. This has been extremely traumatic for both of us, especially Ashley."

He confirmed that Ashley had undergone the procedure earlier that week and that everything had gone smoothly from a medical standpoint, though the emotional toll on both of them had been significant.

"But emotionally, we are drained," he added.

Coming to terms with the diagnosis

Ridgway explained that the statistical likelihood of a baby being born with Trisomy 21 stands at 1 in 1,000, and described his initial reaction to the news as one of shock tempered by optimism.

"If they're a little slow intellectually, then we'll make it work. I signed on to be a parent, come what may," he wrote. "But I just didn't fully understand what Down Syndrome entailed."

In a separate slide, he went on to outline the health risks associated with the condition, citing factors including a decreased lifespan, impaired immune function and poor muscle tone.

"Down Syndrome isn't a 'blessing,' it is objectively s–tty from a health perspective," he added. "I didn't realize just how rough it is for the child, let alone the family … more often than not, they would be fully dependent on others for the rest of their life."

Seeking guidance before the decision

Prior to terminating the pregnancy, Ridgway said he and Ashley had consulted widely, speaking with doctors, friends, family members and genetic counsellors.

Those advisers told the couple that up to 90 per cent of women choose to end a pregnancy following a Trisomy 21 diagnosis. Healthline, however, cites differing figures — 67 per cent in the US, 77 per cent in France, and 98 per cent in Denmark.

Ridgway described the statistic as "WAY higher" than he had anticipated, attributing the gap to the private nature of many such decisions.

"I believe that's because most terminations happen privately [and] it feels shameful. A lot of judgement being cast," he wrote.

"You never think you'd be in this type of situation until it happens to you and then things change," he added.

A message to those with Down syndrome and autism

Acknowledging that some of his followers might react with disappointment, Ridgway addressed those living with Down syndrome or autism directly, telling them, "You matter a lot and we're glad you're here."

"I commend you and your families for having the strength and courage to push forward," he said.

Background: from pregnancy announcement to diagnosis

The couple had announced their pregnancy via Instagram in March, just months after tying the knot in October 2025. The following month, they revealed that their baby had been given a 95 per cent chance of being born with Down syndrome, describing the news at the time as a "gut punch."