PARKERSBURG, W.Va. -- Former POW Jessica Lynch became a mother on Friday, giving birth to a girl whom she named in honor of a fallen comrade.

Dakota Ann Robinson was delivered by Caesarean section at a local hospital at 5:10 p.m. The infant weighed 7 pounds, 10 ounces, said Lynch's publicist, Aly Goodwin Gregg.

"She's fabulous and fat," Gregg said. "She's beautiful."

Lynch and her boyfriend, Wes Robinson, named Dakota in honor of Lynch's friend, Army Spc. Lori Piestewa of Tuba City, Ariz., who was the first woman to be killed in combat in Iraq. Piestewa's middle name was Ann, and Dakota means friendship or ally, Gregg said.

Lynch and Piestewa served together in the 507th Maintenance Company from Fort Bliss, Texas. They were roommates there and tentmates in Iraq. Piestewa died and Lynch was captured when their unit was ambushed on March 23, 2003, near Nasiriyah.

Lynch suffered two spinal fractures, nerve damage and a shattered right arm, right foot and left leg when her Humvee crashed during the firefight.

The story of her capture and dramatic nighttime rescue made her an instant celebrity. The 23-year-old Palestine native is now a sophomore at West Virginia University-Parkersburg. Gregg said she probably will take a semester off or take online courses.

While Lynch still has health problems, Gregg said she came through the C-section "like a champ."

"Jessie's doing great, the baby did great," she said. "She's easy to love, absolutely beautiful."