Utah Preemie Born on Caribbean Cruise Beats Incredible Odds
Baby Haiden was born Sept. 1, three-and-a-half months early.
— -- A pint-sized, one-and-a-half-pound baby has reportedly beat the odds of survival, after coming into this world on a Caribbean cruise three months before his expected birth date.
"The best part of all this is Haiden should of [sic] still been in my stomach for another 15 weeks and I get to see the steps of him growing in person," mom Emily Morgan of Ogden, Utah, wrote on her GoFundMe page. "To see all the little characterics [sic] that he has gained in the short time already has been amazing.
"Haiden is a fighter and he will make it through all of this."
Morgan, 28, said baby Haiden was due Dec. 19, but she began feeling contractions Aug. 31 during a seven-day cruise around the eastern Caribbean; a trip she said her doctor approved to celebrate her daughter’s third birthday, according to The Associated Press.
She has not responded to ABC News’ request for comment.
Morgan told the AP her pregnancy had been uneventful until that point, so she was shocked when the contractions began just past the halfway mark in her pregnancy. She thought they might be false labor pains.
Soon after, however, Morgan said she and husband Chase were forced to call medical staff when they saw blood.
“I knew the baby was coming,” she said.
A doctor aboard the Royal Caribbean ship told Morgan they were still 14 hours from the nearest port in Puerto Rico, so she couldn't give birth, but the mom of two said holding back was far from an option.
After the delivery, Morgan said doctors told her she had miscarried, but she still insisted on seeing her baby.
“I had felt him kicking. I felt the process of him getting bigger,” she told the AP. “I said, ‘I’m going to see him, I don’t care if he’s alive or if he’s dead.'”
About 45 minutes later, medical staff said the baby had survived but wasn’t expected to live long.
Morgan was united with her newborn son, who was wrapped in towels and wearing a miniature oxygen mask on his face.
“He was crying, like a little feeble cry,” Morgan said.
While the ship's captain sped to Puerto Rico, staff tucked microwaved saline packets around baby Haiden to create a makeshift incubator, used a sanitary napkin to keep his head warm and tried to avoid touching his fragile skin.
The boat arrived to the port two hours early, as black spots began to appear on Haiden’s fingers, indicating his circulation was starting to fade.
Two ambulances rushed the family to a hospital, where they were transferred to a children’s facility in Miami a few days later.
Despite her initial frustration when cruise employees didn’t let her see the baby, Morgan said she believes they were just trying to protect her. She added that they have been responsive in supporting her family during this difficult time.
Royal Caribbean Cruises confirmed to ABC News that on Sept. 1, 2015, a guest on the Independence of the Seas had gone into labor.
"The guest gave birth to a baby boy in the ship’s medical facility," the company said. "In order to provide mother and child with additional and urgent medical attention, the ship altered its course and sailed full speed to the closest port of call, San Juan, Puerto, Rico.
"While in route to San Juan, the ship’s medical team worked tirelessly to provide medical care to both mother and child. We wish our guest and her baby much health and happiness."
