[Faline]

One of the world's smallest surviving babies, Melinda Star Guido was so tiny when she was born at 24 weeks that she could fit in the palm of her mother's hand.
Weighing less just 9 ½ ounces at birth - less then a can of soda - she has spent the first four months of her life in a neonatal intensive care unit.
Now weighing 4½ pounds, doctors have given her 22-year-old mother Haydee Ibarra the all clear to take her 'miracle baby' home for the first time.





Melinda has been growing steadily and gaining weight since she was born in August, almost four months before she was due, at the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center.
She is the world's third smallest baby and the second smallest in the U.S.
It's too early to know how she will fare developmentally and physically, but doctors planned to monitor her for the next six years.
Soon after birth, Melinda was treated for an eye disorder that's common in premature babies and underwent surgery to close an artery. Melinda's mother held her for the first time after the operation in November.
Speaking to the AP, Miss Ibarra said: 'She's been through a lot and she's made it. A lot of people doubted her. They thought that she wasn't going to make it.
'She's a little miracle to me.'




Despite the hurdles, doctors said Melinda was fortunate she did not suffer serious complications such as bleeding in the brain.
Most babies this small don't survive even with advanced medical care.
About 7,500 babies are born each year in the United States weighing less than one pound, and about ten per cent survive.
A study published in the journal Pediatrics in 2010 found that many survivors have ongoing health and learning concerns

Melinda, pictured here shortly after birth, became the world's third smallest surviving baby when she was born at 24 weeks weighing just 9.5 ounces:


Most also remain short and underweight for their age, but there are some rare success stories.
The smallest surviving baby born weighing 9.2 ounces is now a healthy seven year old.
Another who weighed 9.9 ounces at birth is an honors college student studying psychology, according to doctors at Loyola University Medical Center in Illinois where both the girls were born.

[mrm1109]

That's amazing. When my daughter was still in the hospital there was a little girl born that was 12 ounces. That was the smallest I ever seen until now. The doctors told me its rare to save a baby born before 25 weeks

[shoottokill]

crazy shit. just goes to show the ability of the human body. she's still small at 4.5 lbs, but should do good. 24 weeks is hella early.

[DeeMarieGK]

24 weeks! That's is so awesome, and may prove to many people that technology can help preemptive out so much! She was 6 months pregnant, but I do know most babies born any earlier and at 5 months gestation will not be viable...at all. Maybe one day they will, and have ways to stop the brain bleeding and be able to function cognitively and physically very well. Modern Medicine!

[DeeMarieGK]

Originally Posted by DeeMarieGK ↗

24 weeks! That's is so awesome, and may prove to many people that technology can help preemptive out so much! She was 6 months pregnant, but I do know most babies born any earlier and at 5 months gestation will not be viable...at all. Maybe one day they will, and have ways to stop the brain bleeding and be able to function cognitively and physically very well. Modern Medicine!

*preemies! Darn spell check!

[Nutbutter]

Awww!

[Pogrom]

[kellyhound]

amazing what they can these days.

[luton loyal]

my little one was born at 27 weeks, bless her, right little cow now

[carkees]

Isn't medicine amazing?