Edwards syndrome, also known as Trisomy 18, is a genetic condition that affects how a babys body develops. It is caused by an extra copy of chromosome 18, which usually happens by chance due to a change in the sperm or egg before conception. The likelihood of having a baby with Edwards syndrome increases with maternal age at the time of pregnancy, but anyone can have a baby with the condition. The condition does not usually run in families and is not caused by anything the parents have or have not done.

Babies with Edwards syndrome have three copies of chromosome 18 instead of two, which affects the way the baby grows and develops. The condition is associated with certain physical features and health problems, and every baby is unique and will have different health problems and needs. Babies with full-form Edwards syndrome usually have a low birth weight and are considered "medically fragile," meaning they are at high risk of infections and complications that require treatment in the hospital. They may also have difficulty feeding, breathing, seeing, and hearing, and may have a wide range of physical symptoms, such as an unusual-looking face and head, unusual hands and feet with overlapping fingers and webbed toes.

Edwards syndrome can be suspected or diagnosed during pregnancy through screening tests such as non-invasive prenatal testing (NIPT), which is a blood test taken from 10 weeks of pregnancy. If doctors believe a baby has Edwards syndrome after theyre born, a blood sample will be taken to see if there are extra copies of chromosome 18. Sadly, there is no cure for Edwards syndrome, and treatment will focus on the symptoms of the condition, such as heart conditions, breathing difficulties, and infections.