Jamie Lynn Spears’ boyfriend IS the father of her baby

The mother of Jamie Lynn Spears' boyfriend has confirmed he is the father of her baby.

Joyce Aldridge said her son Casey was going to be a dad and stood by his teenage girlfriend's revelations. "We are aware of the recent interview regarding her and being pregnant, and we are in agreement with everything that was said by Jamie Lynn about the situation," she told celebrity news website TMZ.

"Everything is fine. At this point, Casey doesn't wish to speak out, but it would be wonderful when the time comes."

Jamie Lynn, 16, and her mother Lynne broke the pregnancy news to the US edition of OK magazine. The youngster revealed that she had been expecting for 12 weeks and named long-term boyfriend Casey as the father. "It was a shock for both of us, so unexpected," Jamie Lynn told OK magazine. "I was in complete and total shock and so was he."

She told the magazine she took a home pregnancy test before visiting a doctor to confirm the news. Jamie Lynn then told just one close friend and waited two weeks before breaking the news to her parents shortly before Thanksgiving. "I needed to work out what I would do for myself before I let anyone's opinion affect my decision," she said.

"Then I told my parents and my friends. I was scared, but I had to do what was right for me."

Lynne Spears added: "I didn't believe it because Jamie Lynn's always been so conscientious. "She's never late for her curfew. I was in shock. I mean, this is my 16-year-old baby."

After digesting the news, her mother eventually "became very supportive", Jamie Lynn revealed. She told OK that despite her own pregnancy, she believed teenagers should steer clear of premarital sex. "I definitely don't think it's something you should do - it's better to wait," she said. "But I can't be judgmental because it's a position I put myself in."

Jamie Lynn is ten years' younger than her sister Britney and has, until now, escaped much of the attention surrounding her sibling. The 16-year-old stars as a schoolgirl in US children's show Zoe 101, which is finishing its third season next month as one of Nickelodeon's highest-rated shows.

The network said in a statement: "We respect Jamie Lynn's decision to take responsibility in this sensitive and personal situation. "We know this is a very difficult time for her and her family, and our primary concern right now is for Jamie Lynn's well being."

Britney, 26, was reportedly kept in the dark about Jamie Lynn's pregnancy - and found out the news at the same time as the rest of the world. "This is going to kill her," a family friend told People magazine. "In the end, she'll be supportive, but this is a big shock."

A rep for Britney later told E! News the pop star has heard the news and "wishes her sister nothing but the best and asks for privacy during this time."

Lynne Spears had been due to release a book a book about bringing up her famous daughters in Spring 2008. Publishers' Weekly described the book as "Lynne Spears' personal story of raising high-profile children while coming from a low-profile Louisiana community."

But the publisher confirmed to People magazine that the book had been put on hold following news of Jamie Lynn's pregnancy. "The book is delayed indefinitely. It's delayed, not cancelled," a spokeswoman for Thomas Nelson said.

She declined to comment on whether the focus of the book would change in light of the pregnancy announcement. "We are standing behind Lynne at this time and understand that she needs time with her family - we support that," the spokeswoman said.