ONE OF THE WORLD'S SMALLEST BABIES GOES HOME

One of the world's smallest surviving babies left County-USC Medical Center Friday almost five months after her premature birth.

Melinda Star Guido weighed only 9 1/2 ounces when she was born 16 weeks premature.

She was the second smallest baby to survive in the U.S., and the third smallest in the world. Melinda was so tiny she could fit into the palm of her doctor's hand.

Now, Melinda weighs 4 1/2 pounds and has made enough progress to be discharged, doctors said.

During her pregnancy, Melinda's mother, 22-year-old Haydee Ibarra suffered from high blood pressure.
The decision was made to deliver Melinda by caesarian section when a problem developed with the placenta, which gives the fetus nutrition, blood and oxygen.

Most babies her size do not survive, doctors said, but Melinda defied the odds. She spent the first months of her life inside an incubator in the neonatal intensive care unit. A machine helped her breathe, and she got her nutrition through a feeding tube. The hospital staff says it will keep a close eye on Melinda for the next six years.

Children born extremely premature can suffer developmental delays and other problems, including blindness or deafness, according to doctors.

But for now, Melinda is doing very well.