Soap star Nikki Sanderson, renowned for her roles in Coronation Street and Hollyoaks, has delighted fans with a significant update regarding her pregnancy journey. The actress, who is expecting her first child with partner Anthony Quinlan, has revealed the baby's gender after originally intending to keep it a surprise until delivery.
From Waiting to Welcoming the News
In an exclusive interview with Closer magazine, Sanderson expressed being "over the moon" upon discovering she is carrying a baby boy. This marks a change of heart for the couple, who had previously decided to wait until the birth to find out if they were having a boy or a girl. "The further we got into the pregnancy, the more I warmed to the idea," Sanderson explained. "We really don't mind what we have. As long as the baby is healthy, we will be very, very happy."
A Subconscious Feeling Confirmed
The actress shared that she had a strong intuition about the baby's gender all along. "Subconsciously, I always felt like I was going to be a boy mum and my family said the same," she revealed. "I just kept envisioning a baby boy in my arms." Her partner, Anthony Quinlan, a former star of Hollyoaks and Emmerdale, echoed her sentiments, emphasizing their primary wish for a healthy child.
Navigating Anxiety and Joy
Despite the overwhelming happiness, Sanderson admitted to experiencing anxiety during the early stages of her pregnancy. At 41 years old, she confessed to worrying about potential complications. "I felt absolutely elated that we got this confirmation and that the baby was fine – the first time seeing the heartbeat on the scans was the most amazing, incredible feeling," she told The Mirror. "But I also felt a lot of anxiety – just worrying that the baby was OK and if the journey for us was going to be OK."
Quinlan, also 41, acknowledged their cautious approach, stating, "We were thrilled but kind of held back from getting too excited because we're aware of the troubles that can happen. You're in that protective mode where you want everything to be OK, but there can be difficulties, especially in the first trimester."
A Spring Arrival Amid Privacy Concerns
The couple has confirmed that their baby is due in the spring, though they are keeping the exact date private to avoid unnecessary pressure. "I'm worried about the pressure of people being like, 'Has she had the baby yet?'" Sanderson explained. She left her role as Maxine Minniver on Hollyoaks last April and is now focusing on her impending motherhood. "But we're happy to say it's going to be a lovely little spring baby," she added warmly.
A Surprise Pregnancy After Struggles
Sanderson's pregnancy came as a complete surprise to the couple, who had faced a challenging two-year journey to conceive. They had even begun exploring IVF options before receiving the positive news. "We've had a lot of ups and downs in our journey to becoming parents and it's been really hard on us," Sanderson admitted. "But now, waiting for our beautiful baby to arrive, it's just incredible."
Recalling the moment they discovered the pregnancy, Sanderson described taking a test at their home in North Manchester. "As soon as we saw that positive result, it was just amazing," she said. The pregnancy was particularly unexpected as she showed no early symptoms and was already four to five weeks along. "Some people have nausea very early on and can have symptoms that give them a clue, but we didn't have any of that," she noted. "We were just carrying on with life. We even competed in a fitness competition together."
Strength in Partnership
Throughout their fertility struggles, Sanderson and Quinlan have relied on each other for support. "We've been blessed that we are a team," Sanderson said. "We knew this process wasn't going to be easy and I can totally understand why it can take a huge toll on people. It's not just the physical element, it's the mental and emotional sides to it as well. But we really had each other's backs through the highs and lows."
Quinlan emphasized the importance of their unity, stating, "It's a team effort. If you're going to bring a little person into the world, it's not a flippant thing, it's life-changing and one of the most amazing things you can ever experience as a human being."
As they prepare for their new arrival, the couple remains grateful and excited, looking forward to the joys of parenthood after a difficult path to conception.
