LONG BEACH, Calif. (AP) - A 17-year-old Long Beach girl who gave
birth at home walked four blocks to a hospital with the baby still
attached by its umbilical cord.

Xochitl (Soh-CHEE'-tul) Parra was showering before going to school Wednesday morning when she started delivering. The family phone was disconnected so she couldn't call 911.

Instead, she got dressed, wrapped up the baby and walked to St.
Mary Medical Center.

Her 8-pound, 3-ounce son, Alejandro, was in good condition and
doctors say he was eating "like a champ." Mother and daughter are
scheduled to go home today.

Parra, who's a sophomore, said she had concealed her pregnancy
from her parents but her mom has agreed to help raise the child so
she can go back to school.

(Copyright 2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

AP-NY-05-03-08 1507EDT