Eileithyia is the goddess of childbirth who has the power to help women give birth. Circe calls for Eileithyia’s help during her labor with Telegonus, but she does not come, which indicates that some other divinity does not want Circe’s labor to go well. The god preventing the birth turns out to be Athena, who does not want Telegonus alive, because he is prophesied to kill Odysseus. Odysseus is a favorite mortal of Athena’s, so she is selfishly determined to keep him alive, even if that means the death of an innocent child.