Reading Time: 3minutesLina Medina, son Gerardo, and Dr. Gérado Lozada
The youngest mother on record, Lina Medina, was only 5 years, seven months and 17 days old when she gave birth to a son weighing 6 pounds. This is by far one of the most disturbing facts that we have encountered, and I was initially skeptical. But it turns out that this was a true event. A disturbing one I’ll admit, even more disturbing than this one, but it did happen nonetheless. So how did this even happen to a child that had hardly even graduated preschool? Even the biology of it is hard to fathom.
In 1939, the youngest mother on record, Lina Medina, gave birth to a baby boy via cesarean section. As we have said, 5 years old doesn’t seem at all possible, and as if it’s a fabricated story. However, all of the facts, including published papers by the physician and the woman herself, now aged in her 80’s, all point to a true story, which makes me a little uncomfortable. Why? Because for this to have happened points to the high likelihood that she was molested. There’s really no other possibility. At only 5 years of age, 4 when she fell pregnant, a young child would not have any comprehension of the physical and psychological connection of sex. In short, she was raped. Simple as that. But how is it possible that she became pregnant? Most females don’t reach sexual maturity, and thus the ability to bear children until they are about 12 years of age. Well fate had a cruel twist with this young girl.
In a report by Dr. Edmundo Escomel it is stated that she had her first period at only 8 months of age. While the exact date is contentious, some saying 2.5 years and others stating 3 years, all seem to agree that by the time she was three she was having a regular monthly period. The fact that this was happening shows that at least her own reproductive system believed that she was ready to begin having sex. But that doesn’t make it right.
When her parents fists noticed a bulging tummy, they took her to see a local doctor. Believing that it was a tumor, they started conducting tests. To their surprise and shock, she was seven months pregnant. To prove the disturbing pregnancy as real and not a hoax, photographs, X rays and other evidence were collected.
On May 14, 1939, Lina Medina became the youngest mother on record, giving birth by cesarean section, as her pelvis was far too small to deliver the baby naturally. It was revealed during the procedure that she had a fully matured reproductive system, the only case ever discovered where such a young child has undergone puberty so early. By all accounts the baby was healthy. He was raised by his grandparents and believed Lina to be her older sister. When he was ten he discovered that she was in fact his mother.
Lina’s son lived a relatively healthy and normal life. He passed away from bone marrow disease in 1979. The identity of the babies father remains a mystery to this day. Her father was initially arrested and held on suspicion of incest. However, he was released without charge when it became apparent that there was a lack of evidence. Lina had a second child in 1972, at the age of 39.
