Premature baby fights for life after doctors told mother to terminate pregnancy.

Keri Barcellos-Putt gave birth to her daughter Dahlia when she was only 28 weeks pregnant.

A photo of her small baby feeding has been shared over 38,000 times on Facebook.

Her mother wrote on Facebook: “This was me and my girl today. Our first time as well! She is 4 weeks today. Born at 28 weeks.”

“Water broke at 21 weeks and . Two weeks of home bedrest and five weeks of hospital bedrest later she was born via emergency c-section due to placental abruption.

“Doctors still thought she wouldn’t survive because she had no water for her lungs to develop.

“She’s here and so healthy. Never needed oxygen. 32 weeks gestation and trying to breastfeed even though they told me she wouldn’t be able to until 34-36 weeks gestation.”

Dahlia weighed 1.5 kilos when she was born and her mother says she is “surpassing all expectations”.

“She has just started to attempt to breastfeed and although it isn’t for nutrients yet, she’s benefiting from the bonding and she’s learning,” said Keri Barcellos-Putt on her GoFundMe page.

“She is tolerating all her feeds by tube at this time and has had very few apnea episodes (that she has been able to self correct quickly) associated with her gestation.”

Keri Barcellos-Putt was 21 weeks and three days pregnant when her water broke and she was told she had suffered from Preterm Prelabour Rupture of Membranes (PPROM).

PPROM is a spontaneous rupture of the membranes before the onset of labour – prior to 37 weeks gestation.

The mother of three, who lives in America, was then admitted into hospital where she tried to rest in order to extend her pregnancy.  During that time, a GoFundMe page was set up ahead of Dahlia's birth to help the family.

Thousands of mothers have joined the online conversation in support of baby Dahlia, with many sharing their stories about premature births.

Allison Maxcy, posted on the Breastfeeding Mama Talk's page: "My water broke at 23 weeks doctors wanted me to have my son and let him pass.

"I refused stayed on bed rest for five weeks at hospital and had him at 28 weeks he weighed 2 pounds and 13 inches long. He will be three in August! So glad you did what you did. Now makes you wonder how many women actually do listen to the doc."

Kat Sanchez posted: "Amazing strong beautiful baby girl! Don't listen to the doctors, they take the easy way out! A mother's love gives us the strength and positive energies to motivate our babies to push the hardest they can to be with us!! Never ever give up on our babies!"

Keri Barcellos-Putt says her daughter is "proving everyone wrong".

"She's a miracle in every sense," she said.