A newborn baby is fighting for his life in the US after weighing in at just 14 ounces - and measuring only 10 inches.

James Maize and wife Carrie decided to go through with an emergency C-section at 22 weeks after their son suffered an umbilical cord prolapse.

That is when the cord comes out before the baby.

Decklen Maize's father hopes his son is a fighter

Named 'Decklen Maize', he is now being cared for a St. Mary Medical Centre in Apple Valley, California.

"If he's a fighter, you know, we want him to fight and make his own decisions" Mr. Maize said.

"It's rough - just being able to sit there at his bedside and just pretty much whisper".

It comes after the couple's daughter, Serenity, died last year after being born at the same stage of pregnancy.