A mother from Iowa gives birth to a 13-ounce baby boy at 23 weeks old

An Iowa mother who gave birth to a 13-ounce baby boy after her water burst at 23 weeks congratulated her son "miracle" while he continues to fight for his life at home. # 39; NICU.

Ellonn Smartt, 25, of Des Moines, was to give birth to her son with her boyfriend, Jordan Morrow, 25, in November. However, on July 11, five months after the beginning of her pregnancy, her water suddenly burst and her family took her to the hospital. The doctors then explained to her that they had to perform an emergency caesarean section.

"They said I would have to deliver in a day or two and that there was a good chance it would not survive," Smartt said today. "It was the moment I collapsed. I had a broken heart. & # 39;

Fighter: Iowa's mother, Ellonn Smartt, gave birth to a 13-ounce boy after her water burst at just 23 weeks old. Doctors told him that he probably would not survive.

Proud: Ellonn, 25, and her boyfriend Jordan Morrow, also 25, described their premature son, Jaden, as a "little miracle" and say that he continues to fight for his life every day.

However, Smartt, who also has a three-year-old son, Elijah, was determined to stay calm so as not to create additional stress for her future child.

"I knew that if I panicked, the baby would understand that and become stressed," she explained. & # 39; I could not let this happen. & # 39;

Smartt underwent a caesarean section and gave birth to Jaden Wesley Morrow shortly after arriving at the hospital.

His son weighed only 13 ounces, which is only one-ninth the average weight of a full-term male baby: 7 pounds, 6 ounces. Jaden was about the same size as his father's hand when he was born.

Parents were also warned that it was likely that babies born so early are not fully trained, do not fully utilize their limbs and can not breathe alone.

However, despite doctors at the Iowa Medical Methodist Center revealing the serious risks to their child, Ms. Smartt says her baby went out of a fight, "raising her arm and screaming loudly," according to KCCI.

The tough newborn also started taking bad milk immediately and the doctors described his progress as "remarkable".

Strong: most babies born at 23 weeks do not have the use of their limbs and can not breathe on their own. However, Jaden came out swinging his arm, screaming loudly.

Keep guard: The tiny newborn is kept in an incubator until it is strong enough to be transferred to a cradle, so that parents have not yet been able to to hold it.

"His arms and toes were moving and he was trying to breathe on his own," Smartt said today, adding, "It's our little miracle."

However, the couple is aware that his son still has a lot of obstacles to overcome before being out of danger. Jaden was transferred to Blank Children's Hospital shortly after his birth and is currently in an incubator.

As a result, her parents have not yet been able to hold it, even though Smartt says she's making sure to visit her every day.

"I'm so proud of him," she told KCCI. "I come in and talk to him, and I tell him that I'm proud of him every day.

While writing on Facebook, Smartt revealed that her son was required to undergo "14 blood transfusions during the first week of her life" and she admitted that "some days have been a struggle".

The proud mom says that her goal is to ensure that her son continues to fight and become stronger each day until they are able to bring him home – what Jordan and her hope to be well before the scheduled date for its official deadline. November 6th.

Outlook for the future: Although she was born just 23 weeks ago, Jaden started drinking bad milk after only two days and continued to challenge the doctors' expectations.

"Remarkable:" I'm so proud of him, "he said. Smartt said of his son. "I'm going to talk to him and I tell him I'm proud of him every day"

"For the most part, Jaden is stable," Smartt said today. "He is under ventilation and has had a small infection, but his doctors think he looks good. He drinks milk and gets fat.

Smartt and his family have created a GoFundMe page to try to raise money to pay for Jaden's medical bills and any other expenses the couple may incur while taking care of his newborn son. the progress of the son.

"Weighing about 13 ounces, I'm already amazed by the doctors," says a story written from Jaden's point of view.

"I've heard them use terms like" incredible "and" remarkable "to describe me up to now. Not bad for someone under one pound, huh?

The report also notes that Jaden is eager to "grow up strong so he can wrestle with his brother" – which, according to Smartt, has been incredibly supportive throughout his unplanned work.

According to the mother, her three-year-old son would have told her, "Everything will be fine, so that they rushed to the hospital. Smartt told KCCI, "We think kids do not notice these things and do not understand what's going on, but he did.