Trisomy occurs when an individual has an extra chromosome in most or all of their cells, resulting in a total of 47 chromosomes.  Health conditions and problems associated with trisomy include physical abnormalities, such as extra fingers or toes; physiological issues, such as irregular heartbeat patterns; and problems related to intellectual and developmental functioning.

There are three types of Trismony:

• Trisomy 13: Also known as Patau Syndrome, this occurs in approximately 1 in 10,000 to 16,000 live births.  Symptoms include more severe intellectual and developmental disabilities and multiple physical problems, including serious heart problems.
• Trisomy 18: Also known as Edwards Syndrome, this occurs in 1 of 5,000 live births.  Infants with Trisomy 18 often have severe Infectional intellectual and developmental disabilities, as well as serious heart problems and other life-threatening issues that make them less likely to live past their first birthday.
• Trisomy 21: Most commonly known as Down Syndrome, it occurs in approximately 1 of 691 live births.  People with Down syndrome usually have mild-to-moderate intellectual and developmental disability (IDD), heart abnormalities, and are at risk for hearing and vision loss and a number of other health conditions.

Online Resources:

Beyond Goodbye

Expecting a Child

Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (N.I.C.H.D.) 

International Trisomy 13 and 18 Alliance

Neonatal Research Network (NRN)

Parenting Resources

Support Organization for Trisomy

Trisomy 13

Trisomy 18

Movies and Documentaries:

A Normal Life

SOFT Trisomy You Tube Channel

The Peanut Butter Falcon

What is Trisomy 18?

Books & Articles:

13 Facts About Down Syndrome that Parents Should Know

Care of the Infant and Child with Trisomy 18 and Trisomy 13

Carrying to Term: A Guide for Parents After a Devastating Prenatal Diagnosis (Amazon)

Five Hours: How My Son’s Brief Life Changed Everything (Amazon)

I Am Not a Syndrome, My Name is Simon (Amazon; Bookshop)

Preparing for Your Baby’s Arrival

Too Perfect for This Life (Amazon; Bookshop)

Up, Not Down Syndrome: Uplifting Lessons Learned from Raising a Son with Trisomy 21 (Amazon; Bookshop)

Veda’s Wings (Amazon)

Podcasts:

DNA Today

Trisomy Family Stories