Second Smallest Preemie in the U.S. Could Be Going Home by New Years
- Posted on December 15, 2011 at 8:44am by
Liz Klimas
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Haydee Ibarra, left, holds her 14-week-old daughter, Melinda Star Guido. (Photo: AP/Jae C. Hong)
LOS ANGELES (The Blaze/AP) — Today is Haydee Ibarra due date. But she isn’t visiting the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center to give birth. She has actually been visiting the hospital nearly every day to visit her daughter Melinda Star Guido who was born 22 weeks pre-mature and is believed to be the second smallest baby to survive in the U.S. and third in the world.
At birth, Melinda was so tiny she could fit into the palm of her doctor’s hand. When she was born in August, she weighed just 9 1/2 ounces — less than a can of soda. While most infants her size don’t survive, there are some growing up into healthy children and adults to this day, maintaining the debate among doctors of what age and weight is viable for an infant to survive.
Here‘s Melinda’s story:
Melinda spent the early months cocooned in an incubator in the neonatal intensive care unit in Southern California, with her 22-year-old mother sits at her bedside almost every day and stays overnight whenever she can. Doctors hope to send Melinda home with her mother by New Years Day.
Ibarra caressed Melinda through the portholes of the incubator where nurses pinned up a homemade sign bearing her name. Now weighing four pounds, Melinda gripped Ibarra’s pinky finger and yawned.
14-week-old Melinda Star Guido holds her mother's little finger. (Photo: AP/Jae C. Hong)
“Melinda, Melinda,” she cooed at her daughter dressed in a polka dot onesie. “You’re awake today.”
During her pregnancy, Ibarra suffered from high blood pressure, which can be dangerous for both mother and fetus. She was transferred from a hospital near her San Fernando Valley home to the county’s flagship hospital, which was better equipped to handle high-risk pregnancies.
There was a problem with the placenta, the organ that nourishes the developing fetus. The fetus, however, was not getting proper nutrition, blood and oxygen. Doctors knew Melinda would weigh less than a pound, but they were surprised at how small and fragile she was.
“The first few weeks, it was touch and go. None of us thought the baby was going to make it,” said Dr. Rangasamy Ramanathan, who oversees premature infants.
Even if she survived, doctors told Ibarra and her husband Yovani Guido, children born this extremely premature can have developmental delays and impairments such as blindness, deafness or cerebral palsy.
Ibarra, who previously had a stillborn, told doctors to do whatever necessary to help her baby.
“They said, `We’ll take the chance. Please try.’ So we said. `OK we’ll try,’” Ramanathan recalled.
Melinda Star in an incubator and her mother's three fingers. (Photo: AP/Haydee Ibarra)
Melinda was delivered by cesarean section at 24 weeks and was immediately transferred to the NICU where a team of doctors and nurses kept watch around the clock. Infants born before 37 weeks are considered premature.
Melinda was kept insulated in an incubator and was hooked up to a machine to aid her breathing. She got nutrition through a feeding tube. Her mother said her skin felt like plastic because it was so thin.
“It takes a lot of good care and a lot of good luck. Most of them don’t survive,” said pediatrician Dr. Edward Bell of the University of Iowa who keeps an online database of the world’s smallest surviving babies who were less than a pound at birth.
The list currently contains 126 babies dating back to 1936. Since submission is voluntary, it does not represent all survivors.
Ten babies weighing less than a pound were born last year and survived. Melinda joins three other tiny survivors delivered this year in Berkeley; Seoul, South Korea; and Iowa City, Iowa. All are bigger than Melinda, who is not eligible to be listed until she gets discharged.
Most tiny babies who survive tend to be female. That’s because female fetuses mature faster than males of the same gestational age. Having more developed lungs and other vital organs increases odds of survival.
Bell published a study last year that found many survivors struggle with health and learning problems. For those for whom growth data are available, many are short and underweight for their age.
There are some success stories.
The smallest surviving baby born weighing 9.2 ounces is now a healthy 7-year-old and another who weighed 9.9 ounces at birth is an honors college student studying psychology. Their progress was detailed in a study published this week in the journal Pediatrics by doctors at Loyola University Medical Center in Illinois where the girls were born.
In the past three years, Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center treated two other babies with extremely low birth weight who survived, but Melinda holds the record at the hospital.
A month after she was born, she was treated for an eye disorder that’s common in premature babies. She faced her biggest test last month when she underwent surgery to close an artery that usually seals after birth.
Ybarra held Melinda for the first time after the surgery. Before that, she could only touch her through the incubator. The next challenge is learning to bottle feed before discharge. Ramanathan predicted at least another two-week stay, dashing her parents’ hopes of taking her home by Christmas.
Ramanathan said it’s too early to know how Melinda will fare when she grows up. Since she did not have major complications such as bleeding in the brain, he held out hope.
Melinda can breathe by herself, but still uses an oxygen tube as a precaution. On Wednesday, an ophthalmologist checked out her eyes and said everything looked good.
After the checkup, Ibarra lifted Melinda out of the incubator and sat in a rocking chair, cradling her.
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Comments (113)
Emrys
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 11:10amAwesome, Congrats!!!
Now, where are the stories about how all American citizens are about to be subject to indefinite detention using the bill that the Senate just passed with 97 votes and that the president it about to sign into law? I’ve seen the video of McCain, Lindsey Graham, and read the words of Carl Levin, all of whom supported this law and say it does indeed mean that U.S. citizens within our borders can be held in a place like Guantanamo indefinitely if they are suspected of aiding terrorists like Al Queda. The Bill of Rights just died, and on the anniversary (200th) of its birth.
Report Post »rabblechat
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 11:33am@Emrys wouldn’t you rather read this feel good story about how a baby who was likely sired by an illegal made it home after receiving half a million dollars+ worth of “free” heath care instead of hearing about how America died? I mean did you really expect the lead story to be about how the NDAA erases the most basic liberties of U.S. Citizens? Did you really… Hold on I just seen 2 hummers pull down my drive way, If you don’t hear from me in the next few days look for me at gitm…….//////
Report Post »Brizz
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 11:36amOr we could also talk about how the 1791 supply & co zip up hoodie is way overpriced for the cheap material. Ordered mine the 1st day it was up on the web, just got it, and what a major let down. Maybe they could’ve just sent me the patches so I could sew them on myself. What a bunch of crap!
Report Post »Dustoff
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 12:35pmI work in medical and I for one am proud at our great health care in the USA. Just in the last 20 years the death of (preemies) had dropped by big numbers.
Report Post »getalong
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 1:26pmIsn’t it ironic that while we celebrate the birth of this child, this administration lifted the ban on partial-birth abortion which allows 5 month fetuses to be murdered and expelled from the womb. Sad, sad, sad……We must stop the outright murder of these babies in the womb. This child speaks of the reason why!
Report Post »chips1
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 2:44pmNext thing Obama plans to do is raise the number of months for a legal abortion to 163 months. That‘s so the government can evaluate if it’s worth your being here.
AZDude
Posted on December 16, 2011 at 12:51amLets just be focused on the fact that a Little Girl was BORN,, and was NOT aborted,, we should all have Melinda in our Prayers,,,
Report Post »swimmer1940
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 10:56amThis poor little girl not only has nothing but a sperm contributor for a sire, but faces a huge possibility of having numerous developmental problems, many of which will only be recognized as she grows.
Report Post »Hope she’s one of the lucky preemies who grow up healthy. Also hope her mother gets her tubes tied because that child likely caused the taxpayers big bucks for her care. Once tubes tied, mom can spread her legs for any sperm donor she wishes to acommodate.
firstHat
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 11:27amUmmm what? “Even if she survived, doctors told Ibarra and her HUSBAND Yovani Guido, children born this extremely premature can have developmental delays and impairments such as blindness, deafness or cerebral palsy.” (emphasis mine)
It was a sick comment even if she was unmarried. What the heck is wrong with you?
Report Post »Primacyoflife
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 11:41amSimmer 1940 you should be so proud, your post may be the most hateful and ignorant post I’ve ever read. If you read the article the father is in the article. The article does not mention if they are legal or not. But THE POINT OF THE ARTICLE IS, that a little girl survived when many would have just dismmembered her and thrown her in the trash, they call it abortion.
Report Post »I have a friend who has a daughter who was born at 20 weeks and is a beautiful health college graduate.
Through love and prayer all is possible, you should try love and prayer instead of hate.
kim
Posted on December 16, 2011 at 9:00amim not married and i have a son so im a bad person
Report Post »thegrimesfamily
Posted on December 16, 2011 at 7:10pmwhat the hell, its a blessing to have melinda here to grow into a healthy baby girl. how dare you judge that poor woman who has been through so much already. you have no right to judge her. are you GOD? i didnt think so. FYI, she is married. next time try to actually read the article.
Report Post »Wayne
Posted on December 17, 2011 at 12:35pmyou are just another jerk with your gutter remarks about taxes. There are a lot of children that are born every day from a full 9 months that have health problems, I just thank GOD that she is alive and I pray that she has a great life.
Report Post »ares338
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 10:52amI haven‘t changed my position on illegals but I’m glad this little one made it!
Report Post »mathews2113
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 4:44pmares338, where in the story did it say that someone was illegal. it isnt good to assume .
Report Post »BloodyArtist22
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 10:48amOf course the pediatrician said it takes a lot of good luck. Pfft. No such thing. There‘s either God’s intervention, or God’s guidance back to heaven. Obviously, this child must live. Such a precious little thing. Thank you, doctors, so much for helping the mother out. The family is now blessed with a miracle. How awesome is that!!!
Report Post »Vickie Dhaene
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 11:24amThank you for such a wonderful comment. Life is a miracle directed only by GOD. I pray the family.
Report Post »firstHat
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 11:29amWhere in the article did it say that the husband and wife are illegal? And why should it matter here?
Report Post »firstHat
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 11:34amOoops sorry ! My reply was meant for the post before this one. Forgive my think clumsy fingers
Report Post »ScienceIsNotEvil
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 2:47pmFunny it wasn’t until science and medicine made lots of hard fought advances that it began to be possible to save such kids… For thousands of years this god you give credit to sat by and did nothing.
Humans saved this child.
Report Post »Conservative_Tongan
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 4:12pm@Scienceisnotevil
Report Post »Nobody here is disputing the fact that Humans were able to save this little girl. The mere fact that you leave God out of the equation could only be because you are an Atheist. Many things are done by people, but great things are done by people with God’s help. It doesn‘t matter if you don’t believe in God, but why is it that you have to tear down another’s belief that he somehow had a hand in all of this? Science is a great tool that we have in our society, but it isn’t everything. What many Atheists don’t see is that Science and Faith go hand in hand. I don‘t expect you to believe me because you’re probably set in your ways, but i’m betting that when the time comes that you are in a hard position, you’ll pray to God too.
kim
Posted on December 16, 2011 at 9:04amConservative_Tongan
Report Post »i agree with you if it wasnt for god there wouldnt be anyhting and i think him every day for what i have in my life
AmericanStrega
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 10:41amWho is paying the hospital bill for this one? Hospital care for a pre-mature baby is extremely expensive. I’m NOT saying the child should have been left to die. I’d just like to know who is paying for her.
Report Post »packhead
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 11:01amWell it does sound like death to you was an option and how do you know she did not have ins. I mean hispanics can have ins too.
Report Post »AmericanStrega
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 11:32amNot a Hispanic thing at all. My husbands nephew and his wife gave birth to a daughter with severe heart problems. The hospital bills are in the millions of dollars and is all being paid for by the taxpayer because they are on welfare. I don‘t believe ANY child should be aborted and I don’t think ANY senior citizen should be denied life saving procedures or medication because they‘ve lived a long life already and shouldn’t be a burden on society. Do you have the same beliefs?
Report Post »mathews2113
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 4:54pmyour amazing, how can you tell they dont have insurance by there skin color or the way they talk. leave it up to the nuckle headed people to change this article to a racist issue.
Report Post »jingoistic.patriot
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 10:39amThe only thing I see missing in this story is………WHERE’S THE DAD. Does anyone even know who or where he is?
Report Post »AmericanStrega
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 10:43am“Even if she survived, doctors told Ibarra and her husband Yovani Guido…” There’s your answer. Please read the article.
Report Post »Carol in Indy
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 11:05amjingoistic.patriot
Did you read the story at all?
Obviously you did not, or you would have seen this:
Quote ::::
“”"Even if she survived, doctors told Ibarra and her husband Yovani Guido, children born this extremely premature can have developmental delays and impairments such as blindness, deafness or cerebral palsy.
Ibarra, who previously had a stillborn, told doctors to do whatever necessary to help her baby”"
Please read the article you chose to opine on.
Report Post »Geez
klevalt
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 10:38amI pray that the doctor realizes that “luck” had nothing to do with that child’s survival… What an inspirational story!!!
Report Post »sissykatz
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 2:23pmKlevalt
One of the first things that stuck out at me was the Dr. speaking of
Report Post »this Miracle as “LUCK”. Poor him….. I would think even Atheists would
have to say this was more than LUCK. Gods fingerprints are all over
this……May the Dr. Realize this before it is too late….Or maybe the Dr.
will Take FULL CREDIT for this. SAD.
FoxholeAtheist
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 10:36amThe kid is born now, so the religious right doesn’t care about her.
Report Post »American Capitalist
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 10:50amyou’re a dope
Report Post »TeaPartyGoth97
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 10:54amThe hell is you problem? do you actually read comments before you post something about the people commenting?
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 11:22amPray for and pity the troll. The poor dear just can’t help himself, bless his stony little heart…..
Report Post »biohazard23
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 10:33amWow, God bless this family!! Melinda is certainly a precious miracle to behold. Best of luck to her and her parents!
My youngest daughter was born at 32 weeks and weighed 1 pound, 10 ounces. I, too, had high blood pressure and she and her sister had to be delivered via emergency c-section. Those first few weeks in the NICU were stressful at best. They were both so small that we had to put doll clothes on them since regular preemie clothes were too big! To look at them now, however, you would never guess that they were preemies.
Report Post »Jeff Thomerson
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 10:32amGod is great. Give Him praise everyday for your own life and the life of others. May he bless this child, her parents and the dedicated medical staff that have helped her.
Report Post »neverending
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 10:50amamen and amen.
Report Post »felix
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 10:25amand she survived because we have the worst health care system in the world !
Report Post »Roscoe
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 10:23amWhat a precious child!
Report Post »jungle J
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 10:21amthere are millions out there seething that this human was spared.
Report Post »GoodvsEvil
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 10:20am@Brerrabbit Abortions cost a lot of money too (cha ching$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$) This looks like a much better use of tax payer dollars! Melinda could be a poster child against abortion.
Report Post »jado1981
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 12:08pmI missed the portion that talks about this being funded by taxpayer dollars… Sure it’s in there, right? Mexicans aren’t allowed to have insurance, are they? Why assume she is on the dole? Perhaps her husband and her are tax paying legal citizens, just like you… perhaps?
Report Post »mankind7375
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 9:59amI love to read stories of success like this one since I had one daughter born at 26 weeks and another at 27 weeks. Now one is 6 and the other 2 and doing just fine. I went to visit them every day and it was a real downer to see the other kids in there. It also made me very happy when I got to see other parents take their kids home when they where healthy enough. I am blessed by both my miracles.
Report Post »Daniel
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 10:23amMy sons were born at 26 and 30 weeks, Levi the first was 1lb 10oz. Both are fine and doing great. Levi is 3 and Brendan is 2.
Report Post »They had no set backs at all.
We thank God every day. With him all things are possible.
Luke21
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 9:53amFor You formed my inward parts; You covered me in my mother’s womb. (Psalms 139:13)
You are He who took Me out of the womb; You made Me trust while on My mother’s breasts. I was cast upon You from birth. From My mother’s womb You have been My God. (Psalms 22:9-10)
By You I have been upheld from birth; You are He who took me out of my mother’s womb. My praise shall be continually of You. I have become as a wonder to many, But You are my strong refuge. Let my mouth be filled with Your praise And with Your glory all the day. (Psalms 71:6-8)
Report Post »CATSUEY
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 9:32amLife begins at conception. Only half way through her pregnancy, and this women gave birth to….oh, I don’t know……it looks like a baby to me!
Report Post »Jubarnes87
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 11:20amNo kidding, right?
Report Post »BrerRabbit
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 9:32amCha-Ching……$$$$$$$$$$$
Report Post »GoodvsEvil
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 10:06amAbortion costs alot of money (cha ching$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$) This looks like a much better use of tax payer dollars.
Report Post »GoodvsEvil
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 10:11amAbortions costs money too (cha ching$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$) This looks like a much better use of tax payer dollars. Melinda could be a poster child to end abortion.
Report Post »firstHat
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 11:32amAnd should you fall ill and outstrip your insurance (it does happen) I hope that no one is thinking the way you do.
Report Post »Jezreel
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 9:30amHaving lost a son that was born 1 pound 12 ounces in 1977 and he survived only a few weeks, I can relate to the stress and anxiety that this mother went through during the first months. If my son had been born now, his chances would have been much better because of the technology they have now. I never question God or got angry at him for my son dying though I still get very angry at abortion advocates that say a child born that stage of development is not a human being. Of course, money is at the core of both, killing and saving. It costs thousands of dollars to save a baby. I surely hope that they have help with the bill and had fund raising events.
Report Post »Alastair
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 9:42amWe lost our 14 weeks premature son to an infection after he lived for 26 days. That was in 2008. This baby girl is strong and the medical personnel have done a great job caring for her. I am sad to read that the mother also previously had a stillborn baby. We will be able to meet them one day! God bless!
Report Post »ed0315
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 9:55amMy son was also born at 1 pound 12 ounces but in 1993 and yes, the years made all the difference in the world, he is now 18 and in college. His birth completely changed my view on abortion.
Report Post »pywaket
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 9:29amI am so happy for the baby and her family that the Drs. never questioned whether to save her and they through God worked miracles. Praise God for this baby girl Melinda, may she grow to tell her story and touch hearts that now believe it is a matter of choice. Sadly too many women are making the choice to terminate their pregnancies further along then Ibarra was and we as a country allow them to, for that we will be held responsible I fear. God bless to the Drs. and nurses that worked so diligently to save Melinda, and I wish the family a healthy happy future and new year with their daughter finally at home where she belongs.
Report Post »sndrman
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 9:18amwhat a pretty little girl almost as pretty as mine.(i freely admit i’m biased in this fact) in b.HUSSAIN o. his health care this would not happend…mircales happend MAY GOD BLESS this little one for the rest of her life and look after her and give her a protecting from harm and pain and give her wisdom….
Report Post »TeaPartyGoth97
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 10:57amPlease. this is a happy occasion. Keep the dumbass in chief out of this.
Report Post »hillbillyinny
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 9:08amHow strange a people we are! One group of dedicated people work almost beyond hope to save a life, and others think only of the “right” to kill human life! Add to this that we have so many organizations and individuals that will save animals at any cost, but will throw out humans as “just a bunch of cells”!
Please dear Lord, help us! Thank you to everyone who fights for the next human life to be born and to live and florish and to ultimately learn of their God and His Love for them.
Report Post »jakartaman
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 9:02amA Poster Baby for Pro-Life
Report Post »I Aint PC
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 9:00amProof that abortion laws need to be looked at and changed to fit our medical knowledge. We wish you the best Ms Ibarra and baby Melinda.
Report Post »Jenny Lind
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 8:54amThere is surely a plan for that little girl.If nothing but to show how early spirits come to their bodies. The fact women kill babies that could live even when aborted, makes me sad-for both the mother and the babies.
Report Post »OhSuzieQ
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 9:06amI agree Jenny.
Report Post »hi
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 9:06amLife, or what you describe as spirit, begins at conception. Otherwise nothing would happen to the egg.
Report Post »neverending
Posted on December 15, 2011 at 10:59amGod always has a plan – so amazing.
Report Post »