AOL BodyHealth News


Teen Gives Birth, Carries Baby to Hospital

AP
Posted: 2008-05-05 09:50:33
LONG BEACH, California (May 4) - A 17-year-old girl gave birth secretly at home, then walked four blocks to a hospital with the baby still attached by its umbilical cord.

Photo Gallery

Daa'iyah Jordan, St. Mary Medical Center / AP

Amazing Births

1 of 10    

Xochitl Parra, 17, holding her newborn son Alejandro, delivered him alone at home in the shower on April 30. She then got dressed and "started walking and jogging to the hospital," four blocks away, with the baby still attached by its umbilical cord. Doctors said both she and the boy are doing fine.

"I was just a little nervous" when the labor began, Xochitl Parra said Friday from St. Mary Medical Center as she cradled her son, Alejandro.

The boy was normal and "eating like a champ," said Dr. Jose Perez, director of the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit.

The teenager said she was alone and taking a shower early Wednesday morning to get ready for school. Then the contractions took over.

"I felt his head coming, so I sit down and pushed so he could come out," she said.

Parra did not call emergency services because the home phone was disconnected, and she did not want to wake the neighbors because it was so early. Instead, she wrapped the baby, got dressed and went to the hospital on foot.

"I started walking and jogging to the hospital," she said.

The teen came into the hospital lobby and asked for help, Perez said.

"She still had the placenta and the baby was still attached, so of course everyone said, 'Don't move!"' he said.

Perez praised the girl for taking quick action.

"They could have bled to death. Thank God that didn't happen," the doctor said. "She was very clever. She knew what to do. She wrapped the baby up and walked over here."

Parra, who's in her second year of high school, said she kept her pregnancy a secret because she was afraid her mother would "kick me out of the house." Her mother has now accepted the situation and is going to help the teen care for the baby so she can continue attending school, Parra said.

Perez called the outcome "heartwarming."

"We hear so much negative with teenagers throwing their babies in the Dumpsters (trash bins)," he said. "This baby is fine, and hopefully there will be a happy ending with the extended family."

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. The information contained in the AP news report may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or otherwise distributed without the prior written authority of The Associated Press. All active hyperlinks have been inserted by AOL.
2008-05-04 10:42:07
Bookmark:

Recent Comments

1 - 10 of 4493
4493 comments

sweetpeastoday 09:16:16 PM May 16 2008

Get a grip. There sure is a lot of young estrogen on this site. Here's some stats. Please watch.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n7WJeqxuOfQ

lwyralice 09:07:36 PM May 16 2008

First time on a message board. Having a little difficulty here....Aaarghh...

You ladies are wrong. Rosemi makes very valid points and you don't directly argue any of his points. You just call him a racist and bigot (check your spelling) without foundation. Sure he has a lot of attitude but so do you. The difference between you all is he clearly has some experience which brings wisdom. Some day you'll understand. Your sense of entitlement combined with his point about El Salvadore and Guatemala showing such hypocrisy is why the problem exists.

Plus many - and I say many Mexicans, especially illegals, have great resentment for Americans and are often very open about it. I wish I could personally help and do something about the failing and corruption of the Mexican govt. and help. But I can't now can I?

Look at Carlos Slim. How did he become the richest man in the world? By overbilling poor Mexicans on their phone bills and holding them hostage by turning off the service if they don't

lwyralice 09:05:04 PM May 16 2008

ww

lwyralice 08:54:24 PM May 16 2008

h

jrtbutterfly11 02:01:08 PM May 16 2008

cindylu1983...I kno its sad...I have discussed this blog with many classmates...coworkers...and teachers....and everyone expresses their concern and sadness that closed minded people like this still exist

cindylu1983 01:50:45 PM May 16 2008

jrtbutterfly11, Isn't it insane that people like rosemi10 exist! lol incredibly insane! The mindset of some people...sigh.

jrtbutterfly11 01:39:54 PM May 16 2008

rosemi10...read what cindylu1983 said and really think about it because she is right....I am be a student but I have had a job since I was seventeen and paid taxes since then and am paying for school MYSELF....so don't ramble on about paying taxes for twenty years and overcrowding schools and not enough jobs... just becuase your older doesn't make you wiser in any way....and Im glad you have immigrant friends but you do not understand the struggle and sometime impossible feet it is to become a American citizen legally...people like you seriously make me sick...stop pointing the finger at other and stereotyping and start looking at your narrow minded attitude

cindylu1983 01:27:26 PM May 16 2008

rosemi10 , Like I said this article had nothing to do with race, and you're hiding behind the "law being obeyed" to rant about your hate for Mexicans!

What you stated is not a fact, it's merely an opinion. Show me the stats that all of "latina" women in which you probably mean "Mexican" women that are 20 have kids.. Not every latina has children by 20. And FYI teen preganacy has all races in the stats. But like usual you'd only like to acknowledge what you want.

And you wonder why the race card was thrown... hmm maybe because you're biggot comments had something to do with it.....I don't know...

Try to stick to the topic instead of making assumptions of someone you do not know, just because they look a certain way.

playdoughmom 11:37:33 PM May 15 2008

Btw, rosemi10 I don't even think you read the article right. This article has nothing to do with whateva your talkin about so give it a rest. Its just about a woman having a baby period. Not Racist, or whateva. So drop it!

playdoughmom 11:35:29 PM May 15 2008

uh, the baby could of been in danger. U dont just have a baby in the shower then run to the hospital with the cord still atached uh wow just imagining that is weird. Always talk to u parents about whateva is going on with you no matter what, a life could be a risk, possibly a little babies life. Think about things before you do them!

1 - 10 of 4493
4493 comments

Add your own Comments

Health News Quiz

A man smoking marijuana height=
Justin Sullivan, Getty Images

Could smoking pot increase your risk of a heart attack or stroke? Find out in the quiz.