This newborn baby was photographed holding his mum’s coil in his hand after she had been using it but fell pregnant anyway.

Paula dos Santos Escudero Alvarez, 32, gave birth to her second child in the Brazilian city of Rio de Janeiro on 4th July.

Bernardo was born healthy at 36 weeks, weighing 3.175 kilogrammes (7.0 lbs) and measuring 49 centimetres (19.3 in).

Birth photographer Michelle Oliveira described the newborn as a “miracle”, given his 32-year-old mum had been using an intrauterine device (IUD), or coil, for three years.

According to obstetrician Beatriz Tupinamba in the magazine ‘Crescer’, the pregnancy rate for women using coils is just 0.6 percent.

Michelle told Newsflash: “I’ve been a birth photographer for over five years. My inspiration is to make moments into memories for the family, especially for the baby, build stories, and create fond memories.

“The IUD was placed in his little hand to represent his arrival. The baby was born, the IUD was removed straight away, and the doctor placed it in his little hand.”

In most pregnancies involving coils, doctors try to remove the device at the earliest possible opportunity. However, in Paula’s case, it was not possible as the wire was not visible.

Bernardo is not Paula’s first “miracle” child; her older son Gabriel was born when she was on the pill.

If used exactly as instructed, the estimated risk of getting pregnant while on the combined oral contraceptive pill is just 0.3 percent, according to the World Health Organisation.

Michelle wrote on Instagram: “I repeat that when He wants something, nothing will get in His way.

“This arrival was beautiful and exciting. What a joy to share this rarity! Welcome, Bernardo!”