Miracle baby born with intestines outside his body celebrates first birthday

A baby which incredibly survived after being born with its intestines outside its body was saved by a PLASTIC BAG.

Carina Rodriguez , 22, and her fiancé Adrian Romo, 21, were devastated when they attended their 16 week scan to learn their baby had a rare birth defect gastroschisis where the abdominal wall does not form correctly.

The young couple were given the option of terminating the pregnancy but instead 'wished for a miracle'.

Defying the odds, Carina gave birth to Alec Ezra Romo three weeks early by emergency C section in December 2015.

Alec's stomach and intestines were enclosed into a plastic tube - a silo bag - and gradually tightened, squeezing them back inside his body.

Over the next year, following a blood infection and two hernias, the brave baby fought for his life.

Now the family from Lodi, California, USA, have celebrated the adorable tot's first birthday and a year out of hospital. Carina, who's studying to become a medical assistant, said: "He's our miracle.

"Even though we were told he might not make it through delivery and he's been so through so much. "It shows it was worth fighting for him to have a chance."

His dad Adrian added: "When we found out Alec had gastroschisis we were devastated, we didn't know if he would be able to live life normal without issues. "We were scared, hoping for a miracle.

"When we brought him home I think I drove so carefully. Then when we got home the house was full of family wanting to meet Alec but we sneeked away into our room and fell asleep in bed with our little miracle - all we wanted was to be alone with Alec."

The newly engaged couple found out their son had the rare condition after being referred to a specialist and having a deep ultra sound.

Doctors advise the couple to terminate the pregnancy as there was high chance of still birth.

Carina said: "We were told Alec might not survive the delivery and a lot of babies don't make it.

"But we knew immediately we weren't going to terminate. We wanted a miracle. "It was really hard, we cried and cried for months after that."

At eight months, Carina realised she hadn't felt the baby all day and rushed to the hospital.

She said: "They checked the baby on the ultra sound and he didn't move for thirty minutes, they were worried he was in process of passing away." Carina was induced but 23 hours into labour the baby's heart beat was so slow that medics decided to perform an emergency C Section.

Carina added: "When they delivered him he was silent at first but then I heard him cry for the first time and it was such a relief, like a weight was off my shoulders.

"He had to immediately rushed to NICU so I didn't get to hold him or bond with him like normal mothers do.

"But two hours later I sneaked out to see him even though I wasn't supposed to walk. It was so amazing to see him."

Alec was hooked up to oxygen and had a tube to remove bile, as well as the silo bag around his organs.

But at four days old, Carina was finally able to hold her baby for the first time.

She said: "Those four days felt like forever.

"But as soon as they put him in my arms I was afraid. He was attached to all these different things and you could tell he was in pain.

"Then at a week and a half he had his first poop - we were so excited because it meant he was getting better, I joked to my fiancé that I wanted to take it home with me, I was so excited."

Despite contracting a blood infection that meant he had to have blood transfusion, baby Alec's silo bag treatment was successful and he was discharged on News Years day 2016.

Since two surgeries for a hernia at three months old, the tot has come leaps and bounds and has surpassed doctors predications.

Adrian, a fabricator, added: "I don't know where I would be without him, everything I do is because I want him to proud to have me as his father, just as I am so proud to have such a fighter as my son."

Follow NEWS.am Medicine on Facebook and Twitter