YouTube couple make 'difficult decision' to end pregnancy after Down Syndrome diagnosis

Influencer couple Jesse and Ashley Ridgway recently announced they'd terminated their pregnancy after a diagnosis of foetal Down Syndrome.

They posted on social media this week (3 June) to confirm that they'd reached the 'difficult decision' as Jesse, 33, explained: "This week, my wife and I made the very difficult decision to terminate the pregnancy due to Trisomy 21.

"The choice was not made lightly."

The couple had first announced the pregnancy back in March.

Trisomy 21 is otherwise known as Down's Syndrome, a condition where a person is born with an extra chromosome, typically because of a change in a sperm or egg before birth.

According to the NHS, it is not affected by actions taken before or during a pregnancy, and the syndrome affects people differently as they will typically have some kind of learning difficulty but levels of independence can vary.

Some people with Down's Syndrome will be able to live independent lives and work, others may require a more regular level of care throughout their lives.

In his message explaining the couple's decision Jesse said he recognised some of their fans may be 'very disappointed' to hear about it, adding that the experience had been 'extremely traumatic' for both of them as Ashley, 31, had terminated her pregnancy this week.

On social media he wrote: "When I first confronted this news, I was shocked but optimistic.

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

'I didn't realise just how rough it is for the child, let alone the family'

He listed some of the health risks associated with Down's Syndrome and said it was 'objectively s**tty from a health perspective' and not 'a blessing'.

"I didn't realise 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," he wrote.

He also claimed that 90 percent of women terminate their pregnancy after learning their baby has Down's Syndrome, though Healthline puts the figure closer to 67 percent.

Jesse said he 'thought it would be lower given I hear so many say they kept or would keep the baby', and speculated that many women kept their terminations private for fear of it being 'shameful'.

Addressing fans of the couple with Down's Syndrome, he said he and Ashley 'appreciate' them and would be trying for a baby again in the future.

Many of the comments on their recent social media posts have been highly critical of their decision.

'We are excited to try again in the future and hopefully have a better outcome'

In response, Jesse said: "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. As for us, we made a difficult decision that we believe in the long-run will be beneficial for our family. Thankfully, we had a choice.

"It will take a little time to move on, but we are excited to try again in the future and hopefully have a better outcome."

'Many of the people throwing stones don't even have children, let alone one with a condition'

In recent Instagram stories posted by Jesse, he addressed the criticism, writing: "I've never seen such hate and vitriol for two people grieving the loss of their unborn child and making an impossible decision.

"The last 24 hours have exposed a side of humanity that is deeply disturbing. Being called 'murderous pieces of s**t, evil, compared to Hitler' and receiving NON-STOP DEATH THREATS."

He then referenced a post he made about the money he'd spent on his dog's life-saving surgery, which had also drawn in criticism, saying: "Seeing my 6-year-old dog with Stage 4 Kidney Disease be used as a weapon, manipulating my words and intent in a tweet or saying we'll regret this decision forever and must repent to God is absolute insanity.

"If you ever wanted to marvel at the depravity of people online, just check the replies on my latest tweet. It's a s**t-show of epic proportions. This is reflective of the current world and landscape we're all living in.

"What's more troubling is a lot of these people use God or Jesus as their justification for threatening us and wanting to cast us into Hell... seems pretty hypocritical.

"So many saying they would've kept the child, put it up for adoption or are suddenly ready to adopt a down syndrome child, that's great!

"You can do all those things. However, many of the people throwing stones don't even have children, let alone one with a condition and most likely will never do the things they say they're going to do.

"There has been some heinous s**t said about my wife and I on some extremely large accounts... It baffles me that there are such trashy-ass people who have significant followings."

He went on to say it that he thought much of the backlash was coming because 'nobody talks' about what they're going through, adding that 'so many mothers' had got in touch with them privately to commend them for discussing it.

They invited others who were in a similar situation to reach out and speak to them, and thanked the people who had reached out to them with support.