I m sorry that you are experiencing problems conceiving.  Having said that jsut because she is young doesn't mean she owes you a baby.  We are encouraging girls to leave having children until their firtile years are getting less.  You have a better chance of being pregnant in your early 20's than in your early 30's so why are we telling our kids to delay?

You are so right. This show aired in Australia today 29 Sept 2011 and I was really shocked by Dr Phil's treatment of this distressed, immature girl and by his failure to look into the family dynamics and offer insights into how this situation arose. He offered no practical help other than adoption counseling. Really coming to grips with the situation would have involved a deeper analysis and a more creative approach in suggesting ways that the wider family and community could be of assistance I really felt for the mother, who was trying to do her best in a difficult situation without the support of her partner and I felt that the girl was treated unkindly and unnecessarily humiliated to make the point that teenage pregnancies are, in general, to be avoided. I am puzzled that Dr Phil showed no interest in Emily as a young person with serious emotional problems who need his help and I disagree that her desire to keep the child is selfishness. It is more likely a visceral maternal instinct to be present and care for her child. The program was all about economics not love. The arrival of an unplanned baby is not the worst thing that can happen. It may bring them great joy.

This show only aired in Australia today.  I have teenage children and have wondered what I would do if I were told that I would soon be a grandmother.  That part wouldn't bother me, but the thought of my children having to grow up too soon would be my angst. 

Emily seems to be in a fairytale world.  I was surprised that she felt so strongly about raising her baby and even considering the adoption route - even as far as declining Dr Phil's team of assistance.

Schools have those "make believe" babies that girls in high school take home for 3 nights as part of a Baby and You lesson.  My daughter had to bring one home when she was 14 and my son was 11.  I think that this is the best form of "birth control" for teenagers.  This "baby" cried at all times (apparently 34 times in 24 hours) and my daughter had to rock/feed/change it to try to make it stop crying.  At one stage my son got up to see to the baby in the middle of the night as my daughter was so tired after being up all night.  She took this really seriously as students were told that there is a microchip in the doll and that they would be assessed from data retrieved from the doll.

Now wouldn't this be a great 1 week trial for Emily - oh and no going out, no mobile phone, no luxuries for the week either. 

I think it would be great if every teenager had to experience looking after a "baby" for a week - might make them think twice about having sex before you are ready for the possible consequences.

I agree with the father its not his job to take care of someone elses responsiblility.  Being a woman myself I have always told my spouse if this were to happen to my child i wouldn't support her choice to keep it, though I don't believe in abortion.  Parents are to quick to say YES i will help not realizing that they are hurting the child significantly and their own child!

First the mother isn't going to build a strong bond with the child anyway because they want to still live their lives..going out....having to work....while the parents build that bond.  Thus this is creating a generation who leaves their problems and burdens on others making it a colder and colder place to live. 

I was watching the show and the mother made me sick, supporting her daughter's ignorance.  That child has no idea what to expect and thinks she is in love HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.  Wow, where is the education?  If it were my child she would take everything full on with just my mental support no physical and see if she still wants to keep the child.  When are we going to stop being the enablers and start being real!

I watched this show today ( we are a couple months behind America) and there is so much I want to say. First of all (and a bit off the mark!) Emily's stepfather Charles' voice sound exactly like Ted Williams'! Secondly, in the show dr Phill stated statistics for the costs of raising a baby. He mentioned diapers, changed twice a day. Thats totally wrong. During daytime you need to change diapers at least three but preferly four times and at night at least once, which means the total diapers needed is more like 5 to 6 per 24 hrs.
Now about the adoption of the baby. I was adopted because my mother was in school and couldn't afford to look after me. My adopted parents was okay but I always wondered about my biological parents. My biological dad apparently ran away, never to be seen again. But what I wanted to say in the first place I was very negative towards my biological mother for given me up. Even after we met later years I couldn't help but blame her. So, I don't think adoption is always right. Most adopted children are searching for their biological parents when they are grownup. And this usually cause many complications, for all the parties involved.
My daughter was in her final school year when se became pregnant. When she decided to keep the baby I support her 100% and yes, I do much of my grandson's upbringing. No harm done. We all love him to bite. Fair enough my daughter had to sacrifice her youth, college and many of her friends, but she always says if she has to choose over, she will do it again.
The fact is, I've never heard of a mom who was rueful for keeping her baby but have heard of a lot who blames themself for given the baby up for adoption.  I
If Emily wants to keep the baby and her mother is willing to support her, let her be. Don't try to talk her out of it. Even at 16 a young mother is capable of loving and caring for her child.

I was brought to tears today watching the show with teen moms. My husband and I have been trying for 3 years to have a baby...we have been married for 3 years and have know each other for 8 years. We are stable in our careers and are ready for a family. When I watched Emily and her lack of confidence with the thought of being a mom, I was sick. I wanted nothing more than to come on the show and offer ourselves to adopt her baby. I just pray and hope that this baby is put into a home that will love, support and cherish him/her. I couldn't agree more with Dr. Phil when he was SPEAKING FOR THE BABY. That poor baby doesn't have a choice in the matter, so I hope Grandma steps up and speaks some truth into her daughter. Tough love. Maybe grandma wants to be a grandma just as much as teen mom wants to be a mom.
Please make the right choice. There are so many people in this world like us who are unable to have babies that would love the opportunity to raise yours as our own. Please keep your baby's best interest as top priority. He/She only deserves the BEST!

Sincerely hopeful

I am in utter shock!  How dare the teen say, "I want to try".  There is no trying to get up at 3 o'cloyk to feed the crying baby, there is no trying to change a soiled diaper, there is no trying to comfort a colicy baby.  I had my first child at 24, married with a complete support system (my husband, my mom, my siblings, my friends, his relatives) and I was scared to death.  When I became pregnant, I had no patience, I knew that, and also that I needed to do something about that, because a baby doesn't realize you can't tolerate the crying or not getting enough sleep.  Emily needs a stern talking to, no matter how many times she has to cry in order to understand.  She's here and appears to be a healthy 16 YEAR OLD CHILD.  Don't misunderstand me, she is a child and does not have the capability to think beyond what she wants, as pointed out by the evercaring Dr. Phil.  As Robyn stated after the show, this pregnancy is more for the soon-to-be Grandma, that's why she's allowing this.  How can you not want what's best for your child/grandchild, unless you plan on providing the financial, emotional, spiritual, intellectual support for the child.  Emily needs to be scared straight.  This is not a fairy tale, this is reality and there is a life that hangs in the balance.  Even the mother has misjudged the seriousness of the situation - her Emily will now have to sacrifice the remainder her teen life, the possiblity of finishing high school, going to college; this eliminates an entire group of possible husbands, friends, and opportunities. If she truly plans to keep the baby, it's time to grow up and realize that little child will soon be the center of attention in everyone else's eyes.  God Bless you Dr. Phil.

I watched this show last night where emily has decided on adoption.  and the lady who had been adopted I can agree with her.. I am a mom of 5 over 15 yrs ago after being involved in DCFS..I place my kids in homes with open adoption 3 were with my family.  one was with an older lady who let me see him all the time and my only duaghter was adopted by a single mom.  it was to be open but after the paper work was signed..she(adopted mom) never contactd me.. I would know about my daugter through my son (who is her real bro)so this one was a closed adoption. pretty much..until about 2 yrs ago when I saw her on My space.  I remember when I decided to place them that i would only agree to an open adoption   well 15 yrs later and the kids are grown....I wish sometimes I would have done a closed adoption.  you may say why......first of all moving on was difficult..because in some sense I still have my kids...I never stopped believing I was there mom  even though someone else cared for them...I have always believed in open adoption but today I question was it really what was best for my kids...when they get older they have conflicting emotions around where they fit in and who they are and me being the biological mother has been the reciever of all those negative emotions and anger for giving them to another  family  so the quilt of my choice  still exist 15 yrs later..If I would have chosen a closed adoption the emotional toil ...that I go through at times (from different things from my children)..wouldnt be as overwhelming as it is...and now it is difficult to know what role I play in there lifes...(I could be thinking I am his mom and I need to be here) and my son can say in the blink of an eye your not my mom your just a friend......)I think that had I done a closed adoption that I may not have all the emotional drama that I have today..and they will have been able to develop clear roles in there life with there adoptive families  ....I was a teen mom...by the time I was 23 yrs I had 5 kids...there is much controversy around closed or open adoptions..I think for a teen mom that is moving towards adoption they should do closed adoption I really believe that at some point in that childs life they will want to know there biological mom and when that time comes the child will be emotionally ready to deal with all those questions they have knowing they were adopted. ..I think some teens think well I can give this baby to this family and I will still be able to go hang with my friends and when i want I can see them and know them.....none of this is easy..I can say one thing......I carried those children for 9 months when they hurt I hurt when they struggle I stuggle when they have hard decisions and I cant  give them advice I hurt...to be a part of there life and not the MOM role....is what is really the hardest...the hardest is to see them go through things that you went through and not be able to say a word ...cause to them your not their mom..  ..Today I have one grandbaby.....and two god babies.....My life is great .....this emotional turmoil...still today cause issues at times in my life...

After seeing the teen mom show i was so disappointed when i see the Dr. Phil show along with other teen mom shows failing to show the positive young female adults who now have fabulous lives because of their responsibility in not becoming pregnant in high school. The "bandwagon" theory is seemingly contagious in a time where teen moms travel in packs pushing their baby strollers around the mall and high schools are having to resort to providing daycare facilities on campus. In my hometown there are at least 2 high schools that i know of that have daycare services on campus. Why not woo the "wanna-be" teen moms with a glimpse of an early 20-something who chose a profession, graduated college, makes her own money, lives in a beautiful apartment, with a brand new car/wardrobe etc that she herself paid for. Who has the freedom to lunch with co-workers/friends/family as well as the choice to finally have a baby. In Mom Before Prom, the only guests who were invited were other teen moms who are going to say things she's already heard and EXPECTS to hear. Yes have those guests but also show the world how glamorous it is for a girl to grow into beautiful respected adult who is revered by so many. i guarantee the more talk shows expose these successful young ladies, the more you will see young girls change their minds and realize the DO want to be respected by the boys and by adults as well by not joining the hoards of hypersexual ignorant young people that are taking over the next generation. A different approach yields a different outcome.

Good for Dr. Phil to offer adoption as an option. I believe there is now so much support for teen mothers some feel if they don't keep their baby they are a horrible person. I do agree with all the support for teen moms. However, the choices seem to be abortion or keeping the baby. Very unfortunately, private adoption is becoming more rare. I am not at all saying Emily should place her baby for adoption or keep it but I was so glad to her Dr. Phil speak so highly of it as an option and one to be proud of making. Some people have commented that Emily's parents should not allow her to keep the baby but unless I am not aware of the law where she lives, adoption can only be Emily's decision as she would be the one who would be signing over her rights. Her parents can't do that for her so if she insists on keeping her baby they really can't stop her. They would only have a choice about how much they help. I hope Emily will at least talk to a professional who can help her make what ever decision is right for her. Adoption isn't right for everyone however, it can be very beautiful. We were blessed with the opportunity to adopt a baby from birth and we have a very good relationship with our child's birthmother. We send pictures, letters, and we visit as often as she likes. Having an open adoption will let our child know where he came from and that he was placed out of her strong love for him. My husband and I are thrilled to be parents and sometimes when we have both been up all night, have laundry piled up and our bills pile up we agree that we don't know how she would have done it on her own when some days it takes 2 people's energy to provide for our child. To the single parents out there our hats are off to you. lol We cherish every moment as parents and Emily if you are reading this and decide to keep your baby get ready for the biggest transition of your life. Nothing will be about you anymore. Your time and your energy, any money you have and anything you receive will be about baby. No longer will you have an "I want " list, it will become a "baby needs" list. Good luck with which ever decision you make. I trust you will make the one that is right for you and your baby.