Maite Alberdi documentary explores 2009 Mexican fake pregnancy and kidnapping case

Two-time Oscar nominee Maite Alberdi has released a new true crime documentary on Netflix titled ‘A Child of My Own’ (Hijo propio). The film explores the 2009 case of Alejandra Marin Mendoza, a young Mexican woman who faked a pregnancy for months and subsequently kidnapped a newborn from the Hospital General de México.

Alberdi uses a hybrid documentary style, combining dramatic reenactments with real interviews and archival footage to examine the psychological motivations behind the crime. The film highlights how Mendoza, after suffering multiple miscarriages, felt intense societal pressure to become a mother. To maintain the deception, she gained significant weight and manipulated medical records at the hospital where she worked.

Beyond the criminal aspects, the documentary aims to spark conversation regarding the invisible pressures placed on women regarding motherhood and the lack of psychological support for those experiencing gestational loss. Alberdi describes the story as a reflection of a system that failed Mendoza, noting that while she committed a crime, her actions were driven by profound isolation and societal expectations.