As teens, they placed their baby for adoption on TV. Her adoptive parents just made a move that changes everything.

Sixteen years ago, Catelynn Lowell and Tyler Baltierra — stars of MTV's 16 and Pregnant — made the decision to place their daughter, Carly, up for adoption.

They simply hoped to give their baby a better life.

At the time, they were teenagers, and their own home lives were chaotic. Tyler's dad, Butch, was in and out of prison for drug offences; and in a twist that sounds made for reality TV (but was devastatingly real), Butch and Catelynn's mum, April, started dating after the teens got together.

April and Butch even married, making the teens step-siblings for a time, but divorced in 2013.

When Catelynn and Tyler's daughter went to her adoptive parents, Brandon and Teresa Davis, it was with an understanding that it would be an open adoption for five years. Unlike a closed adoption, this allows for varying degrees of contact between the biological parents, adoptive parents, and the child.

Watch: Teen Mom's Catelynn reshares message about closed adoptions. Post continues after video.

At first, the arrangement worked for all involved. Brandon and Teresa even appeared on 16 and Pregnant occasionally to document visits between Catelynn, Tyler and Carly.

But while Catelynn and Tyler — now 32 and 33 respectively — have been regular fixtures on MTV for 16 years, it became clear that Brandon and Teresa were becoming increasingly uncomfortable with having their daughter on screen.

Catelynn and Tyler — who are still together and currently raising their three younger daughters, Novalee, Vaeda, and Rya — struggled to accept this, and have continued to speak about the situation publicly over the years.

Now, cut to 2025, and Brandon and Teresa have made a move that has rocked the reality couple.

"They have 100 per cent closed the adoption," Catelynn told E! News earlier this month.

In a statement shared on social media, Carly's biological parents theorised that the now-15-year-old wasn't behind the decision, and it was Brandon and Teresa calling the shots.

"Before communication was cut, I was told Carly was asking her parents, 'Why can't we get together more?' 'Why can't we get together with them for the holidays?' 'They would fly here to come see me,'" Catelynn wrote.

"So in my heart, I don't feel it's her wanting this. If B&T would tell me it's in fact Carly not wanting contact, then I would respect that with all of me!"

Catelynn also shared screenshots of many unanswered texts she's allegedly sent to Teresa, providing updates and photos for Carly. Eventually, Teresa blocked her number, but not before sending one final text.

"The way that you speak about us online was very hurtful, so we're not gonna be responding," Teresa wrote.

Speaking to E!, Catelynn insisted that if Carly was the one who wanted no contact, "it would hurt, but [they] would understand".

"But then, on the other side, if it's just her parents acting out of fear, it's my duty as a birth mum to show this child that I'm continuously fighting for communication, because that's what's ultimately the best for her — if that's what she wants."

Meanwhile, Catelynn and Tyler's adoption counsellor, Dawn, has tried to be the voice of reason, gently suggesting that maybe their public statements aren't helping the situation.

"Could it be that if their opinion is different than yours, and they've asked for space, and they've asked for things to chill, and it hasn't happened, then is it the only alternative that they can see?" she asked the couple in a recent episode of the show.

"And again, you guys have to own the fact that you have a lot of power. You have a ton of power."

But Tyler saw things differently, replying: "I have no power."

He, too, voiced his thoughts about the adoptive parents on social media.

"I think Teresa just saying, 'I don't want to talk to you anymore' is childish... I will keep trying until you say, 'You're harming me' and you explain."

Tyler added that adoption comes with a "natural human cost".

"Most will never know the pain of what it takes to fight against the most powerful, biological and instinctual nature that's required to make that choice," he said.

It's a heartbreaking situation all round. On one side, you have two parents who have spent their entire adult lives processing their adoption decision in front of cameras, desperate to maintain a connection with their firstborn.

On the other, you have adoptive parents trying to protect their teenager's privacy in an age where everything ends up on social media.

No matter how you look at it, one thing is clear: Catelynn and Tyler don't intend to give up on reconnecting with Carly. But for now, the door to communication is firmly shut, and it's up to the 15-year-old and her adoptive parents if and when they want to open it again.

Feature Image: Instagram/@tylerbaltierramtv/@catelynnmtv.