Mum of 11, Itzel Melendez, has just welcomed her latest bundle of joy, two decades after she gave birth to baby number one, and she hasn’t ruled out a 12th pregnancy
A woman has spoken about what it was like to welcome her 11th baby a full 20 years after her first. Itzel Melendez, 38, gave birth to her first child, Jailyn, now 20, on August 20, 2004, back when she herself was just 17.
Baby number 11, Judah, arrived on December 23, 2024, just in time for Christmas, and she and her estate agent husband, Itai, couldn’t be happier.
Salon owner Itzel and Itai, 37, are also proud parents to Nashon, 19; Arielle, 16; Itai, 15; Ithiel, 14; Itayana, 13; Melchi, Itzy, eight; Eden, five, and Luna, two.
The busy couple says teamwork and a fantastic support network have proven to be crucial factors when raising their enormous family.
Itzel, of Richmond, Virginia, revealed: “I have a great support system. My family is always engaged, and my husband’s family as well. 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.”
The older children make sure to lend a hand, which Itzel says helps “balance out”. She explained: “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.”
Former military member Itai is also said to be a “very hands-on dad”, who is “very involved” with his children.
Itzel shared: “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.”
However, being a mum of 11 is no easy feat, and Itzel has also opened up about the physical toll her multiple pregnancies have taken. Expressing her anxieties ahead of Judah’s birth, Itzel said: “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.”
Despite her concerns, Itzel hasn’t ruled out expanding her already enormous brood. However, it isn’t something she’d enter into lightly, knowing full well just how much “attention, time, and energy” a new child needs.
According to Itzel: “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.”
In the meantime, Itzel and Itai are fully focused on their happy new addition, with Itzel sharing: “We’re just really excited to have him and to bring him into the loving environment we’ve built.”
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