A BABY boy is fighting for life after he was born weighing less than a loaf of bread.

Doctors say Alfie Elliott Watkins has a 50-50 chance of survival as his tiny 1lb 13oz frame battles problems with blood pressure and feeding.

He was due to arrive on Christmas Eve, but came into the world 16 weeks early at Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester.

He was rushed to the first available special care baby unit bed in St Mary's Hospital at Portsmouth, where his mum Lorraine Watkins can only see him for a couple of hours every other day.

She has to drive to the unit from her home in Crossways and return to look after Alfie's eight-year-old sister, Aimee.

Housewife Mrs Watkins, 34, of Mount Skippet Way, said all she can do is hold Alfie in an incubator and will him to pull through.

He is being fed her milk, but can't keep it all down.

She added: "Alfie's been fighting since he was born less than three weeks ago.

"It's like one step forward, two steps back - I just have to take it a few hours at a time.

"It is as if this is not really happening to me."

There were no danger signs that Alfie would be so premature.

Mrs Watkins said: "It was a shock when I knew he was coming, I had all these fears going through my mind. We nearly lost him at one point - he had a really bad time with his blood pressure and all the doctors were doing scans on his brain and heart.

"They asked me if I wanted to get him christened, which freaked me out a bit - I had to run out and calm myself down.

"He stabilised and I am relieved, but I know other problems will crop up. Anything could happen."

Mrs Watkins is praying for a hospital bed to become available closer to home so she can spend more time with her son.

She said her family is supporting her, and added: "When I get upset, Aimee comforts me.

"She says she misses him too, but he's in the best possible place."

Alfie's father Ian Bobby, a 38-year-old mechanic, said: "It is really stressful but Alfie is a fighter and I know he'll come through for us.

"Every time I see him, I know he's fighting on."