The next morning, Vanessa woke up and saw Zac sleeping on the couch that was next to her hospital bed. She felt so bad for him. Vanessa got out of bed quietly and carefully and took a blanket from her bed and placed it over Zac's body. She kissed his head softly. Zac opened his eyes and saw Vanessa standing over him.
"You are supposed to be in bed" Zac said.
"I know but you needed a blanket" Vanessa said.
Zac pointed to the bed. Vanessa got into bed and looked over at her boyfriend.
"Am I going to stay in bed all day today?" Vanessa asked.
"Yes" Zac said.
Feeling tension, Vanessa looked down at her hands.
"I didn't mean to make you mad" Vanessa said.
Zac looked at Vanessa.
"I'm not mad, babe. I'm just frustrated and stressed" Zac said.
"I'm sorry that I upset you" Vanessa said.
"Van listen to me. I want to help you. I want to help bring our baby into this world. I'm stressed out because I'm scared. I'm scared that something is going to happen to you or to him. You need to let me help you" Zac said.
Vanessa nodded.
"You can't be getting out of bed right now because we don't know what you can and cannot do. We need to wait for Dr. Todd to come and tell us" Zac said.
"Okay" Vanessa said quietly.
Zac's face softened. He put his hands on his face and rubbed it up and down. Zac took his hands off of his face and looked at Vanessa, who had turned so she wasn't facing him. He got up and walked over to the hospital bed and lied down next to Vanessa.
"Baby, look at me" Zac said.
"No, because you are stressed and I don't want to stress you out more" Vanessa said as she started to cry.
Zac carefully turned Vanessa so she was looking at him.
"Vanessa, I'm sorry I got mad like that. I just want what's best for you and our baby. That's all sweetheart" Zac said.
Vanessa sniffled. Zac wrapped his arms around Vanessa.
"When Dr. Todd comes in, we will ask her what you are allowed and not allowed to do" Zac said.
Vanessa nodded.
"Can I have a kiss?" Vanessa asked.
Zac smiled and leaned in and kissed Vanessa's lips softly. Vanessa pulled back and looked at Zac.
"I love you so much Van. You do know that right?" Zac asked.
"Yeah. I love you too. I know you are stressed too" Vanessa said.
There was a knock at the door and Dr. Todd came into the room.
"Good morning, how's everything going today?" Dr. Todd asked.
"She's really stressed out. I have been trying to help her keep her stress level down but nothing seems to be working" Zac said.
Dr. Todd looked at Vanessa.
"Vanessa" Dr. Todd started.
Vanessa looked at Zac.
"I think that we need to deliver the baby as soon as possible" Dr. Todd said.
"No" Vanessa cried.
"Vanessa, if the baby stays in there, it could create even more problems for you and for him as well. Once the baby is out, we will be able to control the situation" Dr. Todd explained.
Vanessa just cried.
"Just save him" Vanessa said quietly.
"I will go start the paper work and a nurse will come in and start the induction okay?" Dr. Todd said.
"Okay" Vanessa said.
"Vanessa, your son is going to be okay" Dr. Todd said.
Vanessa nodded. Dr. Todd left the room. Vanessa looked at Zac. Zac looked at Vanessa.
"I'm so sorry" Vanessa cried.
"Baby, don't be sorry. He's going to be okay" Zac said taking Vanessa into his arms.
Vanessa wrapped her arms around Zac's neck and took a deep breath and released it. A nurse who was probably in her mid thirties came into the room.
"Hi Vanessa. I'm Amy and I will be your nurse for labor and delivery. I am going to insert the IV with the medication to start the contractions okay?" Amy said.
"Okay" Vanessa said sitting back in her original position.
Amy inserted the IV and made sure everything was in place.
"Alright, you are all set" Amy said.
Amy left the room.
"Can you call our families and tell them what's going on?" Vanessa asked.
"Yeah, are you going to be okay?" Zac asked.
"Yeah" Vanessa said.
Zac kissed Vanessa's lips.
"I love you baby" Zac said.
"I love you too" Vanessa said.
Zac left the room. Vanessa put her hand on her bump.
"I can't wait to meet you Chris" Vanessa said.
Ten minutes later, Zac came back into the room and sat down in his seat.
"How are you feeling?" Zac asked.
"No contractions" Vanessa said.
"They will start soon" Zac said.
"Yeah, but then that means pain" Vanessa said.
Zac smiled.
"You are going to be fine. I'm not leaving. I'm turning my phone and yours off so that there is no distractions and we are going to have a baby. We are going to do this together" Zac said turning his phone off and then Vanessa's.
Vanessa nodded. An hour later, Vanessa was watching television and there were no signs of labor starting. Zac, who was sitting in his seat, looked at Vanessa.
"Do you feel anything yet babe?" Zac asked.
"No, when is this going to start? The anxiety is killing me" Vanessa said.
Zac smiled.
"Just relax. It will start soon" Zac said.
"Have you heard from our families?" Vanessa asked.
"No, my phone is off remember" Zac said.
"Oh yeah, I forgot" Vanessa said.
"Why don't you take a nap Van? You may still have a while until it starts" Zac said.
"Okay" Vanessa said turning to her side and falling asleep.
Three hours later, Vanessa was sleeping peacefully and Zac was watching television waiting for something to happen. Zac couldn't wait to see his son and finally hold him. He was pulled out of his thoughts when he heard Vanessa moan in her sleep. Zac got up and walked over to Vanessa and sat on the edge of the bed.
"Honey, are you okay?" Zac asked.
Vanessa opened her eyes and looked at her boyfriend.
"That was a contraction" Vanessa said.
Zac smiled and moved a stray hair from Vanessa's face.
"That means that you are in labor. Congratulations" Zac said.
"Gee, thanks" Vanessa said sarcastically.
Zac kissed Vanessa's head softly.
"We need to time them" Zac said.
Vanessa nodded. Over the next couple hours, Vanessa started having contractions every ten minutes. She was exhausted and just wanted her baby in her arms.
"Zac, there's a contraction" Vanessa said.
Zac looked at Vanessa and took her hand in his.
"Breathe baby, just breathe" Zac said.
Vanessa breathed through the contraction. Once it ended, Vanessa looked at Zac, tiredly.
"You are doing great Van. I'm so proud of you" Zac said.
Vanessa looked at Zac and moaned. There was a knock at the door and Dr. Todd walked into the room.
"Hi guys. How are you feeling Vanessa?" Dr. Todd asked.
"Pain" Vanessa said.
"You do have the option of getting an epidural" Dr. Todd said.
"I don't want it" Vanessa said.
Zac rubbed Vanessa's back soothingly.
"I need to check you and see how things are going" Dr. Todd said.
Vanessa separated her legs and took Zac's hand in hers. Dr. Todd examined Vanessa and came up smiling.
"You are at a two. You have a long way to go honey" Dr. Todd said.
Vanessa and Zac nodded.
"Just breathe and relax" Dr. Todd said.
"Okay" Vanessa said.
Dr. Todd left the room. Vanessa looked at Zac.
"8 more until we have a baby" Zac said.
Vanessa put her head back against the bed and groaned.
"This is going to take forever" Vanessa said.
Zac kissed Vanessa's head softly. Vanessa squeezed her eyes shut.
"Breathe sweetheart, it's okay. Just relax" Zac said.
Vanessa breathed through the contraction and relaxed.
"Good job baby" Zac said.
Vanessa looked at Zac tiredly.
"I don't want to do this anymore" Vanessa said.
Zac smiled.
"You are doing it sweetie. We are so close to our baby" Zac said.
Hours went by and Vanessa was exhausted and frustrated. She just wanted this baby out. Vanessa was trying to fall asleep when she looked at Zac.
"Contraction?" Zac asked.
"No, I think I want to push" Vanessa said.
Zac's eyes widened.
"Don't push yet Van. Let's call Dr. Todd and see" Zac said pressing the call button.
A few minutes later, Dr. Todd came into the room.
"What's up?" Dr. Todd asked.
"I want to push" Vanessa said.
"Let me check you and see where you are at" Dr. Todd said sitting on the edge of the bed.
Vanessa spread her legs apart and Dr. Todd checked her and looked up.
"Vanessa, you are only at a five. You can't push yet" Dr. Todd said.
Vanessa started crying. Zac rubbed Vanessa's back soothingly.
"I know you are tired and just want your baby in your arms. But you have to wait. Don't push" Dr. Todd said.
"Thank you Dr. Todd" Zac said.
Dr. Todd left the room. Zac looked at Vanessa.
"Baby, just try and take a nap" Zac said.
"I can't take a nap. I'm in pain" Vanessa said.
Zac put his hand on Vanessa's lower back.
"I want to push him out" Vanessa said.
"Don't Van. You heard Dr. Todd. Do not push. You are halfway" Zac said.
"It hurts so bad" Vanessa said.
"I know it does honey. You need to relax and focus on your breathing like Dr. Todd told you" Zac said.
Vanessa took a deep breath and looked at Zac. Zac took Vanessa's hand in his and kissed it.
"I'm really proud of you babe" Zac said.
Vanessa moaned and started breathing heavily.
"Just breathe Van, you are doing great" Zac said.
Vanessa breathed through the contraction and looked at Zac. She then gasped.
"What's wrong?" Zac asked worried.
"My water broke" Vanessa said.
"Okay. Just relax. I will go call the nurse" Zac said pressing the call button.
A couple minutes later, Amy came in and smiled.
"What's going on?" Amy asked.
"My water broke" Vanessa said.
"Alright, I will let Dr. Todd know" Amy said writing down notes in Vanessa's file.
Amy left the room. Zac looked at Vanessa and smiled.
"Why did it take so long for my water to break?" Vanessa asked.
"I don't know honey, but at least things are going to start moving" Zac said.
"Yeah" Vanessa said.
An hour later, Vanessa was curled into a ball and gripping Zac's hand for dear life. The contractions were coming fast and Vanessa barely had time to breathe in between them. Zac's phone rang and he looked at the caller ID.
"Hello?" Zac answered.
"Zac, how's Van?" Starla asked.
"She's doing okay. She's at five right now and her water broke an hour ago" Zac said.
"Do you want me to come to the hospital?" Starla asked.
"No, we want to do this on our own. I will call you when the baby is born" Zac said.
"Okay, how's everything else?" Starla asked.
"I can't really talk right now mom. I will tell you everything after the baby comes" Zac said.
"Alright. I love you and tell Vanessa I love her" Starla said.
"I love you too mom" Zac said.
Zac and Starla hung up.
"I thought you turned your phone off" Vanessa said painfully.
"I did babe. But I turned it back on to give our parents an update" Zac said.
"Can you turn it off?" Vanessa asked.
"Yeah" Zac said.
Zac turned his phone off and looked at Vanessa.
"We are so close to our baby, Van" Zac said.
Vanessa smiled and nodded but was hit with the strongest contraction yet. She cried and gripped Zac's hand harder.
"Breathe baby girl. It's okay" Zac said.
"Ow" Vanessa moaned.
Vanessa breathed through the contraction and then relaxed.
"They are coming so fast" Vanessa said.
"I know" Zac said.
There was a knock on the door and Dr. Todd came into the room.
"How are you doing?" Dr. Todd asked.
"In a lot of pain" Vanessa said.
"I need to check you" Dr. Todd said.
"Okay" Vanessa said spreading her legs apart.
Dr. Todd examined Vanessa and smiled.
"You are at eight" Dr. Todd said.
Zac smiled and looked at Vanessa.
"That's great babe" Zac said.
Vanessa nodded tiredly.
"I've been in labor for over twenty four hours. This baby better come today" Vanessa said.
Dr. Todd giggled.
"He will, don't worry. Just rest" Dr. Todd said.
Vanessa nodded. Dr. Todd left the room.
"We are so close Van" Zac said moving the sweaty hair away from her face.
"We are only having one child so this one better be worth it to you. I'm not going through this pain again" Vanessa said.
Zac smiled and kissed her forehead.
"I love you" Zac said.
"I love you too" Vanessa said.
An hour later, Amy came into the room.
"Dr. Todd wants me to check you" Amy said.
"Okay" Vanessa said spreading her legs apart.
Amy checked Vanessa.
"You are fully dilated" Amy said.
Zac smiled.
"So I can push now right?" Vanessa asked.
"Let me go get Dr. Todd and then you can start" Amy said.
Amy left the room. Vanessa put her head against the bed and took a deep breath.
"You okay?" Zac asked.
"Contractions have stopped but I need to push" Vanessa said.
"Don't push yet, sweetie" Zac said kissing Vanessa's cheek.
Dr. Todd and Amy came back into the room.
"Alright Vanessa, are you ready to meet your baby?" Dr. Todd asked.
Vanessa nodded. Dr. Todd separated Vanessa's legs apart.
"Zac, you hold one of her legs and Amy will hold the other one" Dr. Todd said.
Zac held Vanessa's leg and Amy held the other one. Vanessa squeezed her eyes shut.
"I need to push" Vanessa said.
"Vanessa, listen to me carefully okay? On the next contraction, I want you to push" Dr. Todd said.
"Okay" Vanessa said.
A couple seconds later, Vanessa moaned in pain.
"Are you having a contraction?" Dr. Todd asked.
Vanessa nodded.
"Okay, take a deep breath and push" Dr. Todd said.
Vanessa took a deep breath and pushed.
"Good job babe" Zac said.
Vanessa fell against the bed and sighed.
"Here's another one" Vanessa said.
Vanessa pushed hard and tears ran down her cheeks.
"It hurts" Vanessa said.
"You are doing great Van" Zac said.
This continued for an hour and a half. Vanessa was exhausted and her face was bright red.
"A couple more pushes until the head is out" Dr. Todd said.
Vanessa pushed as hard as she could. Zac put a cold washcloth on Vanessa's forehead.
"One more push Vanessa until the head is out" Dr. Todd said.
"One more push honey" Zac said.
Vanessa pushed hard and screamed.
"The head is out. Good work, Vanessa" Dr. Todd said.
Zac kissed Vanessa's head softly.
"I can't push anymore" Vanessa said.
"Baby, he is almost out" Zac said.
"I can't do it" Vanessa said.
"Vanessa, the baby just needs one more big push and he will out" Dr. Todd said.
Vanessa looked at Zac tiredly.
"You can do this Van" Zac said.
Vanessa took a deep breath and pushed hard. She ignored all of the encouraging words that Zac and Dr. Todd were telling her and just focused on getting the baby out. Vanessa stopped pushing when she heard a cry.
"Van, he's here" Zac said.
Vanessa fell back against the bed tiredly. Dr. Todd placed the baby onto Vanessa's chest.
"Hi Chris" Vanessa said looking at her son.
Zac and Vanessa were so happy that their son was finally here even though it was hard.