A MOTHER who gave birth to her first child at the age of 17 has now welcomed her 11th baby – two decades later.
Itzel Melendez, 38, went into labour with her first child Jailyn, 20, on August 20 2004.
A mother-of-11 has revealed that she won’t stop having children[/caption]
Itzel Melendez, 38, recently gave birth for the eleventh time[/caption]
She claimed that whilst she recognises her children need time and attention, she always seems to ‘end up pregnant’[/caption]
Itzel praised a support system’ as key for raising her large family[/caption]
20 years later, on December 23, 2024, Itzel and her husband, Itai, 37, a real estate agent, welcomed their 11th child, Judah, two decades after their first addition to the family.
With an eleventh baby in the mix, Itzel and Itai have embraced the news with joy and excitement.
The busy mum also acknowledged that whilst she knows her children need time and attention, she seems to always ‘end up pregnant’.
Itzel said she has a great support system and claimed team work is key when raising a large family.
Prior to giving birth to her 11th child, Itzel, a salon owner from Virginia, US, shared: “We’re super excited about the baby.
“We’ve had the little girls back to back, so we were really looking forward to a little boy.
“We’re excited to have him and to welcome him into our family.”
When asked whether Judah might be her last child, Itzel acknowledged: “Usually, when people ask me if I’m going to have any more kids, I would always say no, but to be honest with you, I’d always end up pregnant.
“I love being able to have children, but I do understand they need attention, time, and energy – as well as myself.
“Maybe I’d wait a couple more years if I did, until the baby is a little older and the middle ones and the older ones have also grown.
“But honestly, I don’t know. I can’t say for sure.”
Itzel attributed much of her ability to juggle the demands of a large household to her “great” support network, as she explained: “My family is always engaged, and my husband’s family as well.
The world’s biggest families
The Vassilyev family
This family currently holds the record for the most children a couple has parented, after the matriarch gave birth to 69 children, including 16 pairs of twins and seven sets of triplets.
Mrs. Vassilyev has given birth to a total of 69 children, including 16 pairs of twins and 7 sets of triplets. 67 of the 69 children survived infancy.
The Radfords
Sue and Noel are parents to 22 children, and their hectic family life is documented in reality show 22 Kids and Counting.
The pair have remained adamant that they won’t be having any more kids, but the amount of grandchildren they have is ever expanding, with daughters Sophie and Millie both mums of three.
The Duggars
Michelle and Jim Bob Duggar have 19 children – 10 sons and nine daughters.
All of their children’s names begin with the letter J.
They also had their own reality show in the United States, and became household names because of it.
The Bates family
Kelly also has 19 children, with her husband Gil Bates.
Of 19 deliveries, 14 of them were natural.
The couple also have 28 grandchildren, with four more on the way.
The Dougherty Dozen
Mum Alicia frequently shares videos and pictures of her family.
She and husband Josh have four biological children together, as well as adopting or fostering the rest of their brood.
The Rosario family
Yalancia and husband Michael are parents of 11.
They had their first daughter together earlier this year, and are also parents to Jamel, 15, Michael Jr, 11, Angelo, 10, Gimani, seven, Armani, six, Sincere, three and Khaza, two.
Their fourth son, also named Armani, was stillborn.
“I have siblings nearby who always come and check on me and help me out with getting the kids off my hands for a couple of hours when they take them out to do something fun.”
Alongside Itzel, Itai, and baby Judah, the couple’s bustling household includes Jailyn, 20, an Army reservist; Nashon, 19, who works for Amazon and is preparing to join the Air Force; Arielle, 16, a high school student; and Itai, 15, a content creator.
The family also includes Ithiel, 14, who is living with disabilities and relies on a tracheostomy and G-tube; Itayana, 13; Melchi, 11, who is autistic and also a content creator; and Itzy, eight.
Rounding out the family are Eden, five, and Luna, two.
I think my biggest concern with having another kid, besides the economy, is just trying to give my physical body time to really focus on me
Itzel Melendez
And within the household, teamwork is key, as the now mum-of-11 beamed: “The older ones definitely help balance out.
“We trade off on dinner and stuff like that, and overall, it’s just a big family effort.
“The kids really enjoy being around each other’s company, and we try to create a loving environment where everyone can express themselves and work harmoniously together – at least as much as we can, especially with siblings.”
Itzel’s husband, a former military member, plays an active role in family life, as she claimed: “He’s very involved with them. He loves them and is very hands-on.
Different parenting styles explained
There are four recognised styles of parenting explained below:
Authoritarian Parenting
What some might describe as ‘regimental’ or ‘strict parenting.
Parents with this style focus on strict rules, obedience, and discipline.
Authoritarian parents take over the decision-making power, rarely giving children any input in the matter.
When it comes to rules, you believe it’s “my way or the highway.”
Permissive Parenting
Often referred to as ‘soft parenting’ or ‘yes mums/dads’.
Permissive parents are lenient, only stepping in when there’s a serious problem.
They’re quite forgiving and they adopt an attitude of “kids will be kids.”
Oftentimes they act more like friends than authoritative figures.
Authoritative Parenting
Authoritative parents provide their children with rules and boundaries, but they also give them the freedom to make decisions.
With an authoritative parenting style, parents validate their children’s feelings while also making it clear that the adults are ultimately in charge.
They use positive reinforcement techniques, like praise and reward systems, as opposed to harsh punishments.
Neglectful or Uninvolved Parenting
Essentially, neglectful parents ignore their children, who receive little guidance, nurturing, and parental attention.
They don’t set rules or expectations, and they tend to have minimal knowledge about what their children are doing.
Uninvolved parents expect children to raise themselves. They don’t devote much time or energy to meeting children’s basic needs.
Uninvolved parents may be neglectful but it’s not always intentional. A parent with mental health issues or substance abuse problems, for example, may not be able to care for a child’s physical or emotional needs consistently.
“He enjoys cooking, spending family time, taking them on walks and hikes, and doing the adventurous stuff that maybe a mom doesn’t enjoy as much.
“He teaches the boys how to play sports and box, and he spends time with the little girls doing the activities they love, like gymnastics, ballet, and rollerblading.”
Itzel acknowledged the physical toll her pregnancies have taken on her body, as she admitted: “I think my biggest concern with having another kid, besides the economy, is just trying to give my physical body time to really focus on me.
“Already having eleven kids has affected me, but I don’t feel that it’s done as much harm as people might assume.
“Overall, health-wise, I don’t have any medical issues, but with this pregnancy, I did develop gestational diabetes, which has never happened before.
“That kind of raised a concern because it’s different.”
Itzel first gave birth when she was 17[/caption]
On December 23, 2024, Itzel and her husband, Itai welcomed their 11th child, Judah[/caption]
Despite wanting more children, Itzel wants to give herself time to really “focus on me”[/caption]
