Have you ever heard of the world's youngest mother, Lina Medina? Do you think it was a hoax or real?

Question

I'm just very skeptical as it is and this just seems impossible and fake...A 5 year old giving birth to full-term baby? Do you think it really happened or is a hoax? Is it even physically possible for a 5 year old to carry a baby (pregnancy)?

Answer 1

If I recall the story right it took place in Peru in the early part of the 20th century. I saw a brief story on her during a News special talking about the fact that girls are entering puberty at younger and younger ages. It was done in conjunctin with comments about girls even younger (some only a few weeks old) entering puberty. Of course it stil requires a male to participate in the event. There are also cases of (and I forget the medical term for it) where a female child can carry the unborn embryo of her twin, and have it, even years later begin to grow and give birth to her own twin.

As for the ability of someone that age giving birth, it would have had to be done by cesarian section, btu it is possible. There is medical documantation for the event, and it happened at a time where the a hoax of that type would have been unheard of, especially in that part of the world. I haven't done much research into that particular story, but it is plausible and COULD have happend.

Answer 2

There are two published photographs documenting the case. The first one, of poor photographic quality, was taken around the beginning of April, 1939, when Medina was seven and a half months into pregnancy. Taken from Medina's left side, it shows her standing naked in front of an inconclusive backdrop (either the side wall of a house with the sun shining on her, or a light-diffusing blanket in a room with an overhead light pointed toward the front of her body). This is the only published photograph of Lina taken during her pregnancy. This photograph is of significant value because it proves Medina's pregnancy as well as the extent of her physiological development. However, this photograph is not widely known outside medical circles. The other photograph is of far greater clarity and was taken a year later in Lima when Gerardo was eleven months old.

Although the case was called a hoax by some, a number of doctors over the years have verified it based on biopsies, X rays of the fetal skeleton in utero, and photographs taken by the doctors caring for her. Extreme degrees of precocious puberty in children under 5 are very uncommon but not unheard of. Pregnancy and delivery by a child this young remains extremely rare because extremely precocious puberty is treated to suppress fertility, preserve growth potential, and reduce the social consequences of full sexual development in childhood, and because termination of such pregnancy is more widely available now than in the early 20th century.

Answer 3

I belive it was a hoax, but it is "technically" possible.
Female humans cannot bare a child until they reach puberty. Almost all girls hit puberty between ages 10-15. It has been reported that some (VERY few) have hit markers at age 8. It is VERY VERY VERY VERY unlikely that a child of 5 years could not only become pregnant, but have the ability to develop a normal child (because it requires hieght to allow it to grow to it's height which would be fairly large on a 5 year old's body. And last it is Very unlikely that doctors would allow her to go into labor, most likely they would abort the baby.

There are certain conditions that can speed up body development, such as an overactive hypothalmus gland...but this is EXTREME.

BUT Many reliable scientists and doctors have said that it is real, and it wasn't a hoax, but you can never be sure.

Answer 4

I've never heard of her but, the only way she could have a baby is if she had started ovulating. Its extreamly unlikly at age 5, but I don't think its impossible. There are hormone drugs that will make a young girl quickly grow up and start puberty. I know a girl who was hit by a truck and the drugs she had to take made her start puberty, she started her period when she was 8. But still thats not 5!

Answer 5

some people thought it might be real as there are a lot of miracles/wierd things in medical field. the girl might be physically 'qualified' to get pregnant and give birth a baby. but is she MATURE enough to give birth to a HEALTHY baby? i mean, is there any inborn error found in the baby? what about in the later stage of the baby's life? some genetical diseases tend starts to shows symptom after some time. maybe she can get pregnant, but the system not fully develope. having a baby will do her more harm than good.

also don't forget about her mentality... has she mentally prepared to taking care of a young child?

Answer 6

Snopes.com says that it's true. There are all sorts of weird medical conditions that most people don't hear about; and like the other poster said, some of them make kids 'develop' waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaay too soon.

Answer 7

The sex ed lady that came to our school once told us about a 9 year old who had a baby, so who knows.

Answer 8

Anything is possible. But I would be more concerned with who the sick SOB was that would do such a thing to a 5 year old child. He should be drawn and quartered.

Answer 9

Its possible, its called precoscious puberty. But who's the perv who would have sex with a 5 year old? Thats just sick.

Answer 10

There are cases where the body develops way way to early and i have seen this and read it in a magazine. it is true. apparently ( and i hope it's the same girl) she was raped and never ever told who the father was. It is true, i've seen it.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lina_Medina