There are terrifying scenes ahead for pregnant Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington) in EastEnders next week when she’s rushed to hospital after being hit with waves of pain.
The club owner is currently expecting a child with former Queen Vic landlord George Knight (Colin Salmon), but when she becomes embroiled in drama with Penny Branning (Kitty Castledine) in forthcoming scenes, she soon finds herself in premature labour.
Nicola is on the warpath after working out that her son Harry Mitchell (Elijah Holloway) must be the father of Penny’s unborn child, and not Vinny Panesar’s (Shiv Jalota), issuing Penny with an order to take a DNA test, or face having her secret exposed.
Amid preparations for the opening of George’s new restaurant next week, Harry notices his mum is distracted, prompting her to explain she hasn’t felt the baby move, but doesn’t want to alarm George.
After taking her to the hospital, tests confirm that the baby is fine – but when she returns to the Square, Nicola has another heated run-in with Penny, and is taken over by several waves of pain.
She ignores Harry’s pleas for her to go back to hospital, and hides how she’s feeling from George, deciding to go home to rest instead.
‘Nicola is used to dealing with things on her own and doesn’t want to burden George with any additional worries,’ explains actress Laura Doddington, who plays Nicola.
‘She is already dealing with loads of concerns that she wants to keep to herself, convincing herself they may not be serious. Having experienced false labour with both Harry and Barney, part of her also believes the pains could simply be another false alarm.’
As the restaurant’s launch event gets underway, George is concerned when Harry shares his worries about a notably absent Nicola.
Little do they realise, however, that back at No.1, Nicola is experiencing what feel like contractions.
When George and Harry later arrive to check on her, they find her doubled over in pain and rush her to hospital, where a terrified Nicola later opens up about her fears of having a premature birth.
Unfortunately, there are complications, and Nicola is forced to undergo an emergency caesarean.
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After welcoming a baby girl, an infection means the new mum must remain isolated from her baby, leaving Nicola distraught.
‘It takes a significant toll on her, and we see a real vulnerability in her, compared to her usually combative and protective parenting style,’ says Laura.
‘This week, the emotional strain and the inability to see her baby leave her broken, and the situation becomes heartbreaking for her, especially knowing that everyone else can see the baby while she cannot.’
Meanwhile, George watches his new daughter, who they call Ivy, through an incubator in the NICU – will mum and baby both make it through their ordeal?
EastEnders airs these scenes from Monday 30th March at 7.30pm on BBC One or stream first from 6am on iPlayer.