Nathan and Laura give birth to baby Nathan (Lilliputian)...!!!

A mother who was told to have an abortion because her baby's chance of survival was so low has given birth to Britain's only 'double dwarf'.

Nathan Phillips, who is three months old, was born healthy and fit to Laura Whitfield, 24, and her fiancé, Nathan Phillips, 34, both of whom have restricted growth.

Both of the parents have different forms of dwarfism and the new arrival has stunned medical experts by inheriting both types.

As a result, his mother has hailed him a 'double dwarf'.

Though doctors do not yet know what impact it will have on the baby they say there is no reason to believe he won't lead a relatively normal life.

Ms Whitfield, from Sunderland, said that his safe arrival was a huge relief after she was advised early in the pregnancy that the baby may only survive half an hour, if born alive.

Doctors told her to consider an abortion after irregularities in scans caused professionals to worry the youngster had inherited a deadly combination of genes.

But Ms Whitfield, who had complications throughout the pregnancy, ignored advice and decided to carry on with the pregnancy.

She was then told that both she and the baby would need special care after the birth – if he survived.

The mother prepared herself for the prospect of not seeing her newborn baby after having a C-section under general anaesthetic.

But she was amazed when she woke from the operation to find her fiancé sitting at her bedside with the newborn by his side.

Ms Whitfield, who has appeared in a number of films such as Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, said: 'I was having scans once a week because they were a little worried there could be complications.

'It wasn't until 24 or 25 weeks that things started changing. They noticed that his measurements weren't quite what they should be.

'They thought that he had inherited two rare genes that could have been dangerous.

'I was told to consider abortion and told that if he had these genes he would probably die within half an hour of birth.

'I didn't even think about abortion at any point – I don't believe in abortion. I could feel him moving around inside me – he was a little wriggler. In my head everything was fine.

'When I went down to theatre to have him I was so worried – they had been very cautious with us and said that there was a high chance we would need special care after he was born and that I might not see him.

'When I woke up Nathan was stood next to me with little Nathan in a cot. I couldn't believe it – I just cried.'

Ms Whitfield, who is the only person with dwarfism in her family, has achondroplasia – meaning she has shortened limbs as well as a curvature of the spine – causing serious pain.

Mr Phillips, who lived in Bristol before meeting Ms Whitfield, has a different form of dwarfism – pseudoachondroplasia, which means his bone growth is stunted and he has weak hips.

Experts fear that baby Nathan may inherit back and hip problems due to having both strands of dwarfism, but it is not yet known if he will have either.

His mother said that she hopes Nathan will be able to live a normal life, much like herself, despite his condition.

She added that while she was sure Nathan was the only person in the UK to become a 'double dwarf', the condition had been heard of elsewhere in the world.

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