Dear Miss Emily:

So my boyfriend, who I am about to have a baby with, would rather go out all hours of the night and stay out! He is going to school for his paramedics, and works with this girl who he always flirts with. He calls her boo, and crap, and it's really getting to me. We don't do anything together, and he tries to blame me for all the fussing and stuff. I'm pregnant, so I do have hormones that I can't just up and control. Should I be worried about there being someone else, because he's staying out all the time?

-----------------------------Miss Emily's advice---------------------------

If this pregnancy was unplanned, I can tell you this is quite common. I get letters about this, frequently. Perhaps he has some inner resentment that he's going to be a father and/or trapped in this relationship, but he should feel some obligation to be there for you at this time; despite the fact he doesn't see it that way! Unless you tricked him, he knows how females get pregnant. Being out late, and flirting with this girl (no matter the pregnancy planned, or not) shows a total lack of respect for you, but you can't win with him if he thinks you're causing trouble when, in his mind, none exist. Asking him to be respectful, and make every effort to be engaged in this relationship is all you can do right now; unless you gave him an ultimatum. But ultimatums are often nothing more than empty words, and you don't even seem like you're thinking on those lines. Maybe he does have an interest in this other woman, but you can't know how much unless you were to have some proof. Being pregnant is hard enough without all this stress in your life. It's best, now, to concentrate of making sure you're getting enough sleep and eating right. I know it's hard to not fret when he's behaving this way, but your loyalty must be to the baby first. When the baby comes, you'll have a better idea of what kind of partner, and father he wants to be.  By law, he's obligated to pay some child support if he decides to back out of the relationship.  However, there are no laws that force a parent to be a parent. I wish you the best on this, but only time will tell the outcome.