Telling Your Baby's Daddy

This part is not easy. Regardless, it must be done. It takes two to tango and the baby's father has every right to be in his child's life. Or not. It is his choice. Studies have shown that children who have a positive father-figure in their lives do better in school, get in less trouble, and turn out to become more successful than those who do not have a father-figure present. However, in the end, it is up to him to decide whether he wants to be a father or not.

My advice? Tell the father ASAP. It is better to tell him sooner rather than later. This gives him time to think about his choices. Don't pressure him one way or the other. Instead, be there when he needs to talk. Answer his questions. It is possible he might want a paternity test. If this be the case, fight the urge to be offended. In the end, he has a right to know if the child is his. Even though you may have been completely faithful, a paternity test proves beyond a doubt whether or not he is the father.

At the end of the day, this can go one of three ways.

1. He wants to continue to be with you as well as be a good father.
If this be the case, this is great news! From here on out, you two should work as a team before and after the birth of the baby. You may not always agree, but you both have one common goal: the well-being of your child.

2. He wants to be a father, but he does not want to continue or be in a relationship with you.
This can get a little tricky. This would be the time to get a judge involved. I would also recommend finding a lawyer. Child custody is a tough issue. You want to make sure you have a lawyer to argue your case as well as a judge to rule fairly regarding custody and child support. Keep it professional. After all, your main focus should be to provide the best possible life for your child.

3. He doesn't want to be a father.
Though this may be tough to swallow, it is his decision. Forcing him into fatherhood would only create resentment on both sides. In a perfect world, a man would take responsibility for his actions. In the real world, however, it doesn't always work out this way. This is the time you should turn to friends and family for support. Though he may not be willing to do his duty, you are not alone in this.