The next couple weeks had gone quickly for the Hudgens-Efron household. Stella was eight and a half months pregnant and exhausted. All she did was sleep and eat. All she wanted to do was have her daughter in her arms. One morning, Stella got up and walked downstairs carefully. She got to the kitchen where Zac was feeding Troy and smiled.
"How are you feeling Stella?" Zac asked as he fed Troy.
"I'm exhausted" Stella said looking in the refrigerator.
Stella closed the refrigerator and went to the pantry. She then suddenly doubled over in pain.
"Zac!" Stella cried.
Zac got up quickly and found Stella holding her stomach.
"Come on I will help you sit down" Zac said calmly.
Zac helped Stella sit in a chair at the kitchen table.
"I am going to get Vanessa" Zac said as he ran upstairs.
Zac went upstairs to find Vanessa getting dressed.
"Stella went into labor" Zac said.
"She's two weeks early!" Vanessa said.
Vanessa and Zac went downstairs and into the kitchen. Vanessa kneeled in front of her sister.
"How far apart are the contractions Stella?" Vanessa asked.
"Ten minutes" Stella said with her hands on her bump.
"We have to go to the hospital" Vanessa said.
"I will get Troy and follow you. Go ahead" Zac said.
Vanessa helped Stella to the car and buckled her in. As they drove to the hospital, Stella was in a lot of pain.
"Oooh" Stella said trying to breathe through a contraction.
"Just breathe Stella" Vanessa said calmly.
The sisters got to the hospital and Vanessa helped Stella into the hospital. She then went to the front desk.
"My sister is in labor" Vanessa said.
A nurse came up to them with a wheelchair. The nurse then helped Stella into the chair and rolled her to the elevator. Stella grabbed Vanessa's hand. The nurse then rolled Stella into a hospital room.
"Take off everything and put this gown on. We are going to call your doctor" the nurse said.
Vanessa helped Stella change and lie down in bed. Stella breathed through a contraction. After it passed, Stella relaxed.
"Good job, Stella. You are doing great" Vanessa said.
"It hurts" Stella said.
"I know, but it will be over soon" Vanessa said wiping the hair away from her sister's face.
A couple minutes later there was a knock on the door. Dr. Peter came into the room and smiled.
"You ready to have a baby today?" Dr. Peter asked.
"Yes" Stella said gripping Vanessa's hand.
"I am just going to check your progress" Dr. Peter said.
Stella put her head against the back of the bed and breathed deeply as Dr. Peter checked her. Dr. Peter came up smiling.
"You are at 4. You have a ways to go. If you want an epidural, just press the nurse button" Dr. Peter said.
"Okay" Stella said.
Dr. Peter left the room and Stella squeezed her eyes shut and started breathing deeply.
"Just relax" Vanessa said rubbing Stella's back.
A couple hours later, there was a knock on the door. Vanessa got up from her seat and opened it, revealing Zac.
"Hi" Zac said kissing Vanessa's lips.
"Hi" Vanessa said.
"How is she doing?" Zac asked as he walked into the hospital room.
"She's at 6 right now. The baby looks good right now" Vanessa said looking at Stella, whose eyes were closed.
"Mmmm…Van" Stella moaned.
Vanessa walked over and sat down in the chair she had been sitting in previously.
"I'm right here sweetie. Just breathe okay? You are doing so well" Vanessa said stroking her sister's hair.
Stella breathed deeply until the contraction was over. She then opened her eyes wider.
"Hi Zac" Stella said.
"Hey, how are you feeling?" Zac asked.
"I'm in pain but I am dealing with it. Remind me why I wanted to do this naturally?" Stella said.
"You said you didn't want the baby to come out drugged, I think that's how you worded it" Zac said.
"Very funny, oooh" Stella said closing her eyes.
Stella breathed through the contraction and then relaxed.
"It hurts so bad!" Stella cried.
"You are doing amazing Stella" Vanessa said.
An hour later, Dr. Peter came into the room.
"Let's see how you are progressing" Dr. Peter said.
Right when he said that, the monitors started going off. Dr. Peter got up and looked at the monitors, then looked at Stella.
"Stella, the baby is in distress and need to externally turn her into the correct position again" Dr. Peter said.
Stella nodded. Dr. Peter called a couple nurses to help him.
"IT HURTS!" Stella screamed as Dr. Peter and the nurses turned the baby into the correct position.
Vanessa smoothed Stella's hair back and kissed her head. After Dr. Peter and the nurses turned the baby, the monitors stopped making noise.
"She's okay" Dr. Peter said.
"What made her do that?" Stella asked tiredly.
"Sometimes when the baby is coming down, they turn in the opposite direction" Dr. Peter said.
"Oh, do you know how far along I am?" Stella asked.
Dr. Peter checked Stella and came up smiling.
"You are ready. Let me go get my stuff and we will get started" Dr. Peter said.
Stella looked at Vanessa nervously.
"I will be right back, I am going to tell the waiting room clan" Vanessa said.
Vanessa walked into the waiting room and all eyes landed on her.
"How's Stella?" Gina asked her daughter.
"She's ready to push. I just came out here to give you an update. I need to get back there" Vanessa said.
Dr. Peter got Stella's legs in the position that she wanted. Vanessa then walked to Stella's side and took her hand in hers.
"Stella, on my count you are going to push until I get to ten okay?" Dr. Peter said quietly.
Stella nodded and took a deep breath.
"Okay Stella, bear down and push" Dr. Peter said.
Stella took a deep breath and pushed hard. After Dr. Peter finished counting, Stella fell back against the bed.
"Great job Stell" Vanessa said.
"Stella, you need to push again" Dr. Peter said.
Stella pushed and screamed.
"I can't do it!" Stella said with her head against the bed.
"Stella, yes you can. Just breathe and push" Vanessa said.
Stella took a deep breath and pushed again.
"I can see the head, Stella. Keep going" Dr. Peter said.
Stella screamed and squeezed her eyes shut as she pushed.
"The head is almost out" Dr. Peter said.
"It hurts" Stella said.
"I know it does, honey. You are so close to your baby Stella" Dr. Peter said.
Stella pushed hard and screamed.
"The head is out. One more push and she will be here" Dr. Peter said.
"I can't. I am too tired" Stella told Vanessa.
"Stella just one more push then your daughter will be here" Vanessa said encouraging her.
Stella took a deep breath and pushed for the final time, feeling her daughter leave her body. Dr. Peter laid the baby on Stella's chest. Stella started crying.
"You did it Stella! I am so proud of you" Vanessa said tearing up.
"Oh my god" Stella said crying as she looked at her daughter in her arms.
Vanessa kissed Stella's daughter's head.
"What are you going to name her?" Dr. Peter asked.
"Brianna Rose Hudgens" Stella said looking at her daughter.