McJuggerNuggets Jesse Ridgway and Ashley Ridgway Terminate Pregnancy After Trisomy 21 Diagnosis

Influencer couple Jesse Ridgway, known online as McJuggerNuggets, and his wife Ashley Ridgway said they terminated Ashley’s pregnancy after doctors diagnosed the fetus with Trisomy 21, also known as Down syndrome.

“YouTuber Buried In Backlash After Revealing He And Wife Terminated Pregnancy Because Baby Had Down Syndrome YouTuber Jesse Ridgway opened up about one of the most painful decisions he had to make with his wife, Ashley Ridgway”

Bored Panda

In Instagram Stories posted Wednesday, June 3, Ridgway wrote, "This week, my wife and I made the very difficult decision to terminate the pregnancy due to Trisomy 21," and he added, "The choice was not made lightly."

Bored Panda

People reported that Ashley underwent the procedure earlier this week and that Ridgway said the experience was "extremely traumatic" for him and Ashley.

Ridgway said he and Ashley had announced they were expecting their first child in March and later filmed themselves reading the results of the test that confirmed the diagnosis.

According to the Hindustan Times account of his post on X, Ridgway wrote, "She underwent the procedure earlier this week and is on the mend."

Ridgway said he spoke with friends, family, doctors, and genetic counselors before making the decision, and he described being "shocked but optimistic" when he first confronted the news.

In his statement, he wrote, "If they’re a little slow intellectually, then we’ll make it work," and he said he "just didn’t fully understand what Down Syndrome entailed."

Distractify

People reported that Ridgway listed health risks associated with Down syndrome, including heart defects, hearing challenges and delayed physical development, while Us Weekly said the couple’s decision followed an amniocentesis test confirming the diagnosis.

Us Weekly also quoted Ridgway saying, "Down syndrome carries a very HIGH risk of miscarriage" and that it "usually comes with heart defects, structural abnormalities, developmental issues, shorter lifespan, etc."

Hindustan Times further quoted Ridgway saying, "50% of babies with DS have heart defects" and "75% will have hearing challenges."

Ridgway acknowledged that some followers might be "very disappointed" and said the experience was "extremely traumatic" for him and Ashley, while he told fans, "You matter a lot and we're glad you're here."

“YouTuber Jesse Ridgway says he & wife terminated pregnancy, reveals heartbreaking reason, ‘Choice was not made lightly’ Filmmaker and popular YouTuber Jesse Ridgway has taken to social media to share that he and his wife had to terminate her pregnancy with a heavy heart”

Hindustan Times

In his Instagram Stories, he said, "We really appreciate all of the personal stories that you guys shared with us," and he added, "especially the unconditional support we receive from fans with no matter what we decided."

Distractify reported that Ridgway took to X to discuss the decision and that the update sparked discussion among supporters and critics alike.

Bored Panda described backlash after Ridgway revealed the termination, quoting him as saying, "We are devastated," and stating that Ashley was "on the mend" after the procedure earlier in the week.

People reported that Ridgway said he and Ashley are "hopeful about trying to have a child again in the future," and Us Weekly quoted him saying, "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."