The father should have equal rights to that child.  That father should be on the birth certificate! 

My son, who is 23 and his girlfriend 27 announced she/they was pregnant last August.  September she broke it off with him.  This totally devistated him, in fact he slept on my couch for 2 months, the mother  of their child would have nothing to do with him.  HE was prepared to get a home for the three of them, and she decided she wanted nothing to do with him, and it was HER baby.
My son met a woman and started getting his life back in order, and the mother of his child decided she she didn't want him, but didn't want anyone else to have him either!  She started stalking my son.  My son had to call the authorities.
The baby was born April 30th in which my son found out two days after from a friend of a friend....he immediately went to the county clerk of courts to request a paternity test.  No avail...because he wasn't on the birth certificate, and the mother was not requesting child support, or on state aid insurance he had no rights.  In order for him to get a paternity test to verify it is his son he has to hire a lawyer at $1500.00. 
Now, I ask, how fair is that?  It does take two to make a baby...the alleged father should be able to request a paternity test.
This is all selfishness, think of the child and STOP thinking of yourselves.

Ok Dr.Phil what you are saying is right but what gets me today and has made me want to jump threw the tv is your holy than tho additude. You have never made mistakes your boys have always been perfect, i highly doubt it. These 2 kids made a mistake YES they had unprotected sex they were in the heat of the moment stupid but it happened so why grill them on it really whats done is done so instead of grilling them talk about the issue and that is the moms being crazy. As for these moms yes be there to support the kids but understand they are the parents they need your support not you fighting. Also the father is allowed to have the child stay at the house for the night, i think the dad should go to the courts to get the judge to make the decision, not the moms and NOT Dr. Phil. Believe me i DO NOT agree what so ever on kids haveing babies and if these moms realy have never talked to them about sex then thats there bad. I have 2 kids and my oldest is 18 and we started talking to him when he was 12 about sex and my daughter is 11 and we have started talking to her about sex. Come on people get with it instead of denying that your kids ar gonna have sex just accept it and talk to your kids.

i watch these shows about babies having babies and even adults having babies and not a one of any of these "who's your daddy" shows ever answers the question about the impact on the taxpayers, i.e. government entitlements having to support the child as well as these so called parents who don't have an income or minimal job set skills to be able to financially support these children, and of course it falls on the taxpayers once again to have to take up the slack of these peoples lack of judgement.

everyone talks about the welfare of the child, but no one ever looks at the cost involved, except to say how much it costs to raise a child to maturity.i as a taxpayer am sick of paying for these people's promiscuity. i'm sick of paying to go to a movie but never seeing the film.

Well teenagers makes mistake but here parents are part of the problem of what happen!!!!

Yes the unborn kids belong to his mother and grandmother for decision. Then when born they could share custody but it is up to mother to make all the decisions.

Austin be a man and go and propose to Becca to make your life normal. 
Then grandmothers could be happier!!!   Hope the best

You are so right.

I watch Dr. Phil's show with my husband . We're late 60's .

There's hardly a time when we don't say ,"But where are the fathers?"

Don't let these well-meaning "grandparents"   take over your life and that of your baby.    They are both very head strong  -  by all means   be sure  to have the Dad's name on that birth certificate -  that is the Dad's right  and the baby's.       There should be no discussion on that whatsoever.     

Don't let either parents come between you -  you loved and cared about each other before -  and now you have a baby to include.         I can speak from experience here -   don't let your parents come between you  -  you must be strong together and show them you still love each other -  don't let doubt crowd out your feelings  -    words  "I don't know if we can"    are negative -    "we can and we will"  should be the positive!       

dr. phil,

I have watched your two shows with teen mom's and this is getting worst as the years go by. I got pregnant when I was 17 years old and there was very few teen's back then, this was back in 1977 but I was very blessed to realize that I was not old enough to raise a child and the best thing for that child would to give him up for adoption, because I wanted a child so bad that this was the hardest decision that I had to make, but the best thing. I have never regret giving him up and I think about him every day. It's really sad that these teens are thinking of the best interest in there child and just give him up.


sincerely yours
carol brunner

Margie is a control freak and the other mother is just a freak.  Letting all the neighborhood kids hang at her house and permiting coed slumber parties, WOW!!  I was a singe mother of 4 who worked swing shift but believe me when I say, my house was not a hang out for anybody but my own kids.  I would never in a million years put up with that and my kids knew it. They are all grown up now and actually thanked me for teaching them how to take care of themselves in more ways than just holding down a job.

Dr. Phil has given his very best advice during today's show.  I pray the families will work together because family court is a foul joke!

Where were the fathers of these teenagers?  Did they just not want to be on the program or are they not involved in their lives?