Warning: This article contains discussions of child abuse that may be distressing for some readers.
At just five years old, Lina Medina became the youngest confirmed mother in history when she gave birth to a baby boy. Unfortunately, her life was filled with challenges and tragedy.
In 1939, Lina was living with her parents in a remote Peruvian village when they noticed her abdomen was expanding abnormally.
Given Lina’s young age, her parents initially suspected the swelling might be due to a tumor and sought medical advice from Dr. Gérado Lozada in Lima.
To their astonishment, the doctor discovered that Lina was actually seven months pregnant.
On May 14, 1939, Lina delivered a healthy baby boy through a C-section. This event marked her as the world’s youngest mother at the age of five years, seven months, and 21 days.
The newborn was named Gerado, in tribute to the doctor who managed Lina’s extraordinary situation.
Lina’s family largely avoided public attention, and she provided no information about the identity of the child’s father.
Later in life, Lina married Raul Jurado and the couple had another son in 1972. Tragically, her firstborn son, Gerado, died in 1979 due to a bone disease.
When Lina was 68, Raul described her living conditions to Telegraph India, saying she resided in a “cramped house in a poor, crime-ridden district” of Peru.
Though many aspects of Lina’s case remain shrouded in mystery, doctors have been able to explain how she could conceive at such a young age.
After examining Lina’s condition, it was identified that she experienced precocious puberty, a rare disorder where a child undergoes puberty unusually early.
Lina reportedly began menstruating by the age of three, according to her mother.
This condition resulted in Lina developing adult sexual organs during her early childhood, enabling her to physically conceive despite her young age.
Unfortunately, this led to Lina becoming pregnant following an assault.
Initially, authorities suspected incest in Lina’s case and arrested her father, Tilburelo, on charges of sexual assault. However, he was released due to insufficient evidence.
If you have been impacted by these issues or wish to discuss child welfare confidentially, you can reach the Childhelp USA National Child Abuse Hotline at 1-800-4-A-CHILD (1-800-422-4453). This service operates 24/7 and accepts calls from the United States, Canada, US Virgin Islands, Guam, and Puerto Rico.