Charlotte Halliday, 23, from Queensland, shared the story of her then newborn son Charlie who was born with a severe cleft palate and lip.

And now, almost three months on from his birth on April 18, Ms Halliday has shared adorable photos of Charlie’s first smiles.

The heartwarming snaps were posted on Ms Halliday’s Facebook group, Charlie’s Journey, where she shares updates on her son’s health and news from their hospital visits.

‘Just got my first smile off Charlie!!! 3 in a row!!!! Proud mummy moment,’ Ms Halliday wrote after seeing his first ever smile on Thursday.

Over the past few weeks, Charlie has been in and out of hospital with a number of feeding issues and doctors will be unable to operate on him until his feeding tubes are out.

Charlie and his family will return to hospital in six weeks in the hope that the tubes can be removed and his first surgery date can be set.

Charlie, who now has more than 1,300 people following his journey on Facebook, was born after a ‘textbook perfect’ pregnancy but was later diagnosed with a severe cleft lip and palate – both of which were not picked up in scans.

‘At first I didn’t know anything was wrong. He was placed on me but I couldn’t see his face as he was facing the other way,’ Ms Halliday told.

‘The look on everyone’s faces told me something was wrong – I was so scared because I didn’t know if it was to do with me or Charlie.

Ms Halliday’s mother told her that Charlie had a cleft palate and lip and two minutes later he was taken away to be checked on as his heart rate monitor was buzzing.

‘I was devastated and terrified and just had so many mixed emotions – I was wondering how he was, whether he was going to be okay and whether he would be able to survive,’ she said.

‘I was experiencing every single emotion at once. The pediatricians took him away and although he was breathing they had to take him away to check him over and I didn’t see him for hours.

‘I had no idea if he was okay and doctors said we should expect to be in hospital for up to a month. Thankfully, except for the cleft lip and palate, he was perfectly healthy and happy and we were able to leave a few days later.’

Ms Halliday and her partner Darren were thrilled to go home with their baby boy and were able to feed him using a specially designed bottle.

‘It was so nerve-wracking at first because I was worried he wouldn’t take a bottle or that I would hurt his mouth somehow,’ Ms Halliday said.

‘But he was feeding perfectly and was able to suck so we were very lucky.’

Ms Halliday posted about Charlie on Facebook to thank the hospital for all of their support.

And after receiving hundreds of supportive comments and requests to follow Charlie’s updates, Ms Halliday decided to start her age.

‘Despite the shock he’s absolutely beautiful and perfect in our eyes and he’s such a fighter already,’ Ms Halliday said.

‘I was worried at first about how people would respond to Charlie but people have been so amazing – we have had an overwhelming amount of support.

‘I haven’t had a single negative comment and everyone has been just amazing. I wouldn’t have been able to get through all of this without them.’

Ms Halliday, who has had the support of many parents in a similar situation, urges those who do have a child born with a cleft palate and/or lip to surround themselves with a support network.

‘Expect the unexpected, thank God your baby is healthy and that nothing is seriously wrong,’ she said.