True.

Regardless of our squeamishness, we have to note that the claim of a five-year-old girl giving birth is apparently true. Her name was Lina Medina, a Peruvian girl from the Andean village of Ticrapo who made medical history when she gave birth to a boy by caesarean section in May 1939 at the age of five years, seven months and 21 days. Lina's parents initially thought their daughter had a large abdominal tumor, but after they took her to a hospital in the town of Pisco physicians confirmed that her abdominal swelling was due to pregnancy. Lina was eventually transferred to a hospital in Lima, where she delivered a six-pound baby boy by Cesarean section on 14 May 1939 (coincidentally the date on which Mother's Day was celebrated that year). Lina's father was temporarily jailed on suspicion of incest, but he was released for a lack of evidence and authorities were never able to determine who fathered Lina's child.

Lina's incredible story was documented in contemporaneous reports by Edmundo Escomel, one of Peru's preeminent physician-researchers of the period and a laureate of the prestigious French Academy of Sciences. Escomel's first correspondence to the editors of La Presse Medicale1 (which is undated but appeared in the 13 May 1939 issue) noted that Lina first came to the attention of Dr. G�rado Lozada, chief physician of the Hospital of Pisco, when she appeared at that hospital in early April 1939 for evaluation of what was assumed to be a massive abdominal tumor.

Urban Legends Reference Pages: Pregnancy (Youngest Mother)


Related Entries
  • The Placebo Effect

    So, how's that homeopathy working for you? The Strange Powers of the Placebo Effect - YouTube...

  • Selling "Psychic" Stones

    I'm kicking myself for not getting in on this racket. YouTube - The Real Hustle Undercover - Psychic Stones...

  • Jon Stewart's speech at the Rally For Sanity

    Thanks for bringing it all into perspective Jon! YouTube - Jon Stewart's speech at the Rally For Sanity....

  • The Christian/Pagan Invasion

    Wow, religious people are weird. HALLOWEEN PROPAGANDA! from EIT! on Vimeo. Christian Nightmares, 'The Pagan Invasion': A manipulated Christian......

  • TED Talks: Michael Shermer on strange beliefs

    Michael Shermer talks about skepticism, pareidolia, hidden lyrics in Led Zeppelin songs, and Katie Melua's cute nerdiness. Michael Shermer on strange beliefs | Video on...


Leave a comment

Recent Entries

  • The Placebo Effect

    So, how's that homeopathy working for you? The Strange Powers of the Placebo Effect - YouTube...

  • Coffee and a Devil's Star

    Reading another Jo Nesbo book (is that 'Joe' or 'Yo'?) and grabbing a cup at Williams on Northfield. I'm all out of order on this...

  • 5 Reasons No One Is Guestposting At Your (My) Blog

    Image via WikipediaWell, obviously, I've not been looking for guest posters. But apparently, it's a thing you can do to get more content and more...

  • Gearing Up for the 2011 Zombie Invasion

    Image by aeviin via FlickrPut on your brains, the zombies are coming. Zombies make their appearances here and there all through the year, but you...

  • My Mai Tai

    A Trader Vic mai tai, straight from the book. Remember, the only fruit juice in a mai tai should be lime. Yes, well, there should...

Close