A few minutes later, the anesthesiologist came into the room and instructed Vanessa to sit up and lean against Zac as he inserted the epidural. After the anesthesiologist finished, he helped Vanessa lie back down and told the couple that the epidural would take ten or fifteen minutes to be in effect. The anesthesiologist left the room. Zac looked at Vanessa and smiled.
"Do you feel anything yet, sweetie?" Zac asked.
"Not yet" Vanessa said as she put her hand on her bump.
"In a couple minutes, you will feel something" Zac said as he entwined their fingers together.
Ten minutes later, Vanessa smiled as she felt the effect of the epidural.
"How are you feeling?" Zac asked.
"No pain" Vanessa said.
Zac smiled.
"That's great baby, you should get some sleep" Zac said.
"I think I am going to" Vanessa said as she snuggled into the hospital bed.
"I love you. You are doing awesome, Van" Zac said as he kissed Vanessa's lips.
"I love you too" Vanessa said as she closed her eyes.
Vanessa fell asleep and Zac stood up. He leaned over Vanessa and kissed her head softly.
"I am going to go to the waiting room and talk to Dylan. I will be right back" Zac whispered.
Vanessa nodded. Zac left the hospital room and walked into the waiting room and saw a bigger crowd than he did before. He saw that Vanessa's family and Dylan were all sitting and talking about the baby. Dylan looked up and smiled when he saw Zac.
"How's Van doing?" Dylan asked.
"She got the epidural and is sleeping" Zac said.
"How long do you think until the baby is born?" Stella asked.
"I honestly don't know. We have been here for about ten hours" Zac said.
"Your first child is always the longest. When I had Vanessa, I was in labor for twenty four hours" Gina said.
"Wow and Dr. Brown was telling us that the epidural slows everything down so we may be waiting a little longer" Zac said.
"Yeah, you should go back and see how she's doing Zac" Gina said.
"Yeah, I think I am going to. I will see you guys later" Zac said.
Zac walked out of the waiting room and went down the hall to Vanessa's hospital room. He opened the door and walked in and saw Vanessa's eyes open slowly.
"Hey sleepyhead, how are you feeling?" Zac asked softly.
"I'm okay. I don't feel anything. The only thing I feel is pressure when there is a contraction" Vanessa said.
"That's great honey. The waiting room gang sends their love" Zac said.
Vanessa smiled.
"I'm sorry I yelled at your earlier" Vanessa said.
"Van, don't even worry about it. You are in labor and I am the cause of your pain. You are allowed to yell at me" Zac said.
"Yeah, but I didn't mean it" Vanessa said.
Zac kissed Vanessa's lips softly.
"I love you" Zac said.
"I love you too" Vanessa said.
A couple minutes later, Vanessa fell asleep again. Zac was reading a magazine when Dr. Brown came into the room.
"Hi Zac, how's she doing?" Dr. Brown asked.
"She's doing great. She just fell asleep" Zac said.
"Good, I unfortunately need to wake her up so I can check her" Dr. Brown said.
"I'll wake her up" Zac said.
Zac got up from his seat and kissed Vanessa's cheek softly and heard Vanessa moan.
"Baby, Dr. Brown needs to check you. You need to wake up for a minute" Zac said.
Vanessa opened her eyes slowly.
"How are you feeling, Vanessa?" Dr. Brown asked.
"Okay" Vanessa said.
"I just need to check you and you can go back to sleep" Dr. Brown said.
"Okay" Vanessa said as she spread her legs apart.
Dr. Brown checked Vanessa and smiled.
"You are at six centimeters, four more to go" Dr. Brown said.
Vanessa nodded tiredly. Dr. Brown left the room and Zac looked at Vanessa.
"Go back to sleep, honey" Zac said.
"Now I am up and can't go back to sleep" Vanessa said.
Zac smiled and leaned in and kissed Vanessa's lips.
"More please" Vanessa said.
Zac kissed Vanessa's lips passionately.
"I love you" Zac said.
"I love you too" Vanessa said.
Zac's phone vibrated and he looked at his phone.
"Honey, your mom wants to come in and see how you are doing. Are you okay with that or do you want to try to fall asleep?" Zac asked.
"I don't want to see anyone. I just want to have the baby" Vanessa said.
"You don't even want to see your mom?" Zac asked as he moved a stray hair out of Vanessa's face.
"No, just send everyone home" Vanessa said.
"Alright" Zac said.
Zac got up and left the hospital room. He walked into the waiting room and everyone looked at him.
"How is she?" Gina asked.
"She's fine. She's really tired. Vanessa said she doesn't want to see anyone right now and she just wants to rest and told me to send you all home" Zac said.
"Okay, but let us know when the baby comes" Gina said.
"I will" Zac said.
Zac left the waiting room and walked back to Vanessa's hospital room. He walked in and smiled when he saw Vanessa sleeping. An hour later, Vanessa woke up and saw Zac on his phone. He looked up and smiled.
"How are you doing honey?" Zac asked.
"Good, I feel pressure but other than that, I feel fine. How long was I asleep for?" Vanessa asked.
"Only for an hour" Zac said.
"Oh okay" Vanessa said.
There was a knock on the door and Dr. Brown came into the room.
"How are you feeling, Vanessa?" Dr. Brown asked.
"Okay" Vanessa said.
"I need to check you" Dr. Brown said.
Vanessa spread her legs apart.
"You are at eight" Dr. Brown said.
"That's great, Van" Zac said.
Vanessa smiled.
"It won't be long. If you start to feel the urge to push, page me" Dr. Brown said.
"Okay" Vanessa said.
Dr. Brown left the room. Zac smiled.
"You are amazing honey. You are doing great" Zac said.
Vanessa smiled.
"I couldn't do this without you. Thank you for being here" Vanessa said.
Zac smiled.
"I will always be here, no matter what" Zac said.
Vanessa smiled. Zac put his hand on Vanessa's stomach.
"The baby is still kicking" Zac said.
"I don't feel it" Vanessa said.
"Oh" Zac said.
An hour later, Vanessa was lying on her side. Zac was massaging her stomach gently.
"I feel so much pressure" Vanessa said.
"Do you feel like you need to push babe?" Zac asked.
"I don't know" Vanessa said.
"Let's page Dr. Brown and see what's going on" Zac said as he pressed the call button.
A couple minutes later, Dr. Brown came into the room.
"How's it going Vanessa?" Dr. Brown asked.
"I feel a lot of pressure" Vanessa said.
"Let me check you and see where you are" Dr. Brown said.
Vanessa spread her legs apart and Dr. Brown checked her. She came up and smiled.
"You are at nine centimeters, Vanessa. I am going to go get some stuff and I will be back" Dr. Brown said.
Vanessa nodded tiredly. Dr. Brown left the room. Zac kissed Vanessa's lips.
"You are doing great sweetie. The baby is almost here" Zac said.
Twenty minutes later, Dr. Brown came back into the room with a couple of nurses. They set up medical equipment around Vanessa's hospital bed and Dr. Brown looked at the couple.
"Are you getting excited?" Dr. Brown asked.
"I just want the baby out" Vanessa said.
Zac smiled.
"The baby will be here soon" Dr. Brown said.
Dr. Brown checked Vanessa and smiled.
"Vanessa, you are fully dilated" Dr. Brown said.
Vanessa smiled.
"Thank God" Vanessa said.
Zac kissed Vanessa's head softly.
"Now, you need to listen to me carefully okay? On the next contraction, I need you to bear down and push" Dr. Brown said.
"Okay" Vanessa said.
"Zac, I need you to hold one of Vanessa's legs to her chest and one of the nurses will hold the other one" Dr. Brown instructed.
"Okay" Zac said as he pulled Vanessa's leg back.
Zac looked at Vanessa and winked at her.
"You okay?" Zac asked.
"I can feel the contractions more than I did before" Vanessa said.
"Vanessa that's normal. Don't worry" the nurse said as she pulled Vanessa's leg back.
"Okay" Vanessa said.
"You never answered my question babe" Zac said.
"I'm scared, but I am excited" Vanessa said.
Zac smiled.
"Me too, but everything will be fine" Zac said.
"Why is it taking so long for a contraction to come?" Vanessa asked.
"The baby is getting ready to come out so the contractions have decreased a little bit. It's normal" Dr. Brown said.
"Alright" Vanessa said.
A couple minutes later, Vanessa felt a weird sensation in her lower body and took a deep breath.
"I think I want to push" Vanessa said.
"Alright, Vanessa. Bear down and push" Dr. Brown said.
Vanessa took a deep breath and pushed.
"You are doing great baby" Zac said.
After the contraction ended, Vanessa fell back against the bed.
"Great job, Vanessa. Catch your breath while you wait for another one" Dr. Brown said.
A few seconds later, Vanessa looked at Zac.
"I need to push" Vanessa said.
"Go for it, honey" Zac said.
Vanessa took a deep breath and pushed hard. She had tears running down her face.
"Babe, you are doing amazing" Zac said.
Vanessa fell back against the bed.
"It hurts" Vanessa said.
"I know honey, it's almost over" Zac said.
"You are moving the baby down, Vanessa. I can see a little hair" Dr. Brown said.
Vanessa took a deep breath and pushed again until her face turned red. She fell back against the bed and cried.
"I can't do it anymore" Vanessa said.
"Baby, yes you can. You are doing so well" Zac said.
"Vanessa, I can see more of the head. You just need two more pushes and the head will be out" Dr. Brown said.
"Come on honey, just two more pushes" Zac said encouragingly.
Vanessa took a deep breath and pushed. She whined and tears ran down her face.
"Ow" Vanessa said.
"It's okay Van, everything is okay" Zac said.
Vanessa fell back against the bed.
"It hurts" Vanessa said.
"Vanessa, you just need one more push until the head will be out and that is the hardest part" Dr. Brown said.
"One more push, baby" Zac said.
Vanessa took a deep breath and pushed hard and screamed.
"The head is out. Do you want to touch the head, Vanessa?" Dr. Brown asked.
Vanessa nodded as she tried to regain her breath. Dr. Brown took her hand and brushed it against the baby's head.
"I just need one big push and the baby will be out" Dr. Brown said.
Vanessa took a deep breath and pushed as hard as she could. She heard Zac encouraging her as she pushed. Vanessa stopped pushing when she heard a cry fill the room. She fell back against the bed and tried to regain her breath.
"It's a girl! Congrats! Daddy, do you want to cut the cord?" Dr. Brown asked.
"Sure" Zac said as he took the scissors that Dr. Brown handed him.
After the cord was cut, Dr. Brown put the baby onto Vanessa's chest.
"Hi sweetheart, I can't believe you are finally here" Vanessa said as tears ran down her face.
Zac kissed Vanessa's lips softly and looked at his daughter.
"She looks like you, babe" Zac said.
"She has your smile" Vanessa said as she looked at her daughter.
"What's her name?" Dr. Leon asked.
"Allie Efron" Vanessa said.
Zac smiled and kissed the newborn's head.
"Hi Allie, I'm your daddy" Zac said.
"Vanessa, we need to clean you up. You can put Allie in Zac's arms" Dr. Brown said.
"Okay" Vanessa said as she put her daughter into Zac's arms.
"Hi sweetheart" Zac said as he looked at Allie.
Zac looked at his daughter and couldn't believe that she was here. He looked at Vanessa and smiled. Zac was so proud of Vanessa. She had given him the most perfect daughter in the world. After Vanessa was cleaned up, she looked at Zac and observed how he acted with Allie.
"Hi daddy" Vanessa said.
"Hi mommy" Zac said.
Zac stood up from the chair he was sitting in and went over to Vanessa's hospital bed. He put Allie in Vanessa's arms.
"She's perfect" Vanessa said.
Zac smiled.
"You did great honey. I am so proud of you" Zac said as he kissed Vanessa's lips.
"Thank you for making me a mommy" Vanessa said.
Zac smiled and looked at Allie and then looked at Vanessa.
"Thank you for making me a daddy" Zac said.
"Vanessa, we need to take her to go get checked out. We will bring her right back" the nurse said.
"Okay" Vanessa said as she kissed Allie's head.
Vanessa put Allie into the nurse's arms and watched the nurse walk away. Zac put his hand on top of Vanessa's.
"How are you feeling?" Zac asked softly.
Vanessa smiled.
"I feel amazing" Vanessa said.
Zac smiled and leaned in and kissed Vanessa's lips. A couple minutes later, the nurse came back with Allie, who was now in a pajama outfit with a cap on, and put her in Vanessa's arms.
"You are all clean" Vanessa cooed.
"She's healthy right?" Zac asked Dr. Brown.
"Yes, perfectly healthy. I will see you guys later. Congratulations!" Dr. Brown said as she left the room.
"Okay, thank you" Vanessa said.
Zac looked at Vanessa.
"Do you want me to call our parents?" Zac asked.
"Yes please" Vanessa said.
"Okay" Zac said.
Zac left the room to call his and Vanessa's parents and told them that Vanessa had the baby. A few minutes later, Zac came back into the room and smiled.
"How are my girls doing?" Zac asked.
Vanessa smiled.
"We are doing fine. But, I think someone is a little tired" Vanessa said as she looked at Allie, who was sleeping in Vanessa's arms.
"I will put her in her bassinet" Zac said as he carefully took Allie out of Vanessa's arms.
Zac carried Allie over to her bassinet and carefully lied her down in it.
"There you go Allie" Zac said as he kissed his daughter's forehead.
Zac looked at Vanessa and smiled.
"Why don't you get some sleep, Van? You have had a long day" Zac said.
"I want to stay up a little longer" Vanessa said.
Zac lied down next to Vanessa on the hospital bed.
"We have a daughter" Zac said incredulously.
Vanessa smiled and nodded her head.
"I love you" Vanessa said.
"I love you too" Zac said.
"What did our parents say?" Vanessa asked.
"After our mothers screamed and cried, they congratulated us and said that they would come meet Allie when we got home. They didn't want to overwhelm us right now" Zac said.
"Okay, is she asleep?" Vanessa asked.
Zac looked into the bassinet and smiled.
"She's sound asleep. That's what you should be doing too" Zac said.
"Fine" Vanessa said.
Vanessa snuggled into Zac's chest and fell asleep. The next morning, Vanessa woke up and remembered that Allie was here. She smiled and snuggled into Zac's chest. Vanessa looked over Zac's body and saw Allie sleeping in her bassinet. She smiled. Zac started to stir and opened his eyes slowly.
"Hey mommy" Zac said.
Vanessa smiled. She would never get tired of hearing that.
"Hey daddy" Vanessa said.
Zac looked at Allie's bassinet and smiled.
"She's still sleeping" Zac said.
"Yeah" Vanessa said as she wrapped her arms around Zac's neck.
"I love you" Vanessa said.
"I love you too" Zac said.
Zac leaned in and kissed Vanessa's lips. The couple pulled away when they heard a cry.
"She's up" Zac said stating the obvious.
Vanessa smiled. She got out of bed but regretfully stood up.
"Oh my god. I'm so sore" Vanessa groaned.
"Hey, I will get her. Get back in bed" Zac said.
Vanessa carefully got back into bed. Zac got up and walked over to the bassinet and carefully picked Allie up. He then carried the newborn over to the bed and placed her into Vanessa's arms.
"Hi Allie" Vanessa said.
Zac lied back down and looked at his daughter in Vanessa's arms.
"I can't believe she's ours" Zac said.
Vanessa looked at Zac and nodded. There was a knock on the door and the nurse came into the room.
"How are we doing this morning?" the nurse asked.
"Good" Vanessa said.
"Are you going to breastfeed or feed her by a bottle?" the nurse asked.
Vanessa's eyes widened. She and Zac hadn't talked about. Vanessa looked at Zac.
"It's your decision, Van" Zac said.
"Is it healthier to have breast milk than normal milk?" Vanessa asked the nurse.
"Yes, it's much healthier. Eventually you will have to wean her off though" the nurse said.
Vanessa sighed.
"I will breastfeed" Vanessa said.
"Okay, now what you are going to do is hold her like this" the nurse said as she put Allie in the correct position.
"Alright" Vanessa said.
"Now, we are going to pull down your gown a little and have Allie face your breast. She will then latch on" the nurse said.
The nurse pulled Vanessa's gown down, exposing her breast. She then watched Allie latch onto her mother.
"How does it feel?" the nurse asked.
"It feels weird but I like it" Vanessa said as she looked at Allie.
Zac smiled. Vanessa looked down at her daughter and smiled. The nurse left the room.
"How does it feel?" Zac asked.
"It feels weird. She's pulling" Vanessa said.
"Does it hurt?" Zac asked.
"No" Vanessa said.
Allie pulled away and Vanessa looked at her daughter. She lifted Allie in her arms and patted her back until she burped.
"There, you are all better" Vanessa said.
Zac and Vanessa were so happy that Allie was finally here, safe and sound. They couldn't wait to see what life had in store for them.