Actress Nikki Sanderson and fellow soap star Anthony Quinlan have introduced their newborn son, Anthony James Quinlan, born on April 19 weighing 7lbs 9oz. The couple, who have been together for four years, shared their joy and the challenges of a difficult birth in their first exclusive interview.
Sanderson, 42, explained the name choice: 'He’s named after his dad and my brother James. Two very special men.' She described their son as 'so calm' and admitted to being 'completely obsessed' with him. Quinlan echoed the sentiment, saying, 'We can’t stop staring at him.'
However, the birth was far from straightforward. Sanderson was induced at 39 weeks for reasons she prefers to keep private, using a hormonal gel. Her body became hypersensitive, triggering non-stop contractions for 24 hours with no dilation. Despite efforts to manually pull her cervix down and break her waters, doctors advised an emergency C-section to prevent distress to the baby.
'I was in such horrific pain,' Sanderson recalled. 'My body had started shaking.' Quinlan added that she lacked the strength to continue. Sanderson agreed to the procedure, saying, 'Do whatever you think is best, so long as the baby comes out and he’s safe.' She praised the Royal Bolton Hospital and midwives for their support.
Recovery from the C-section has been painful, as Sanderson noted that prolonged contractions made the muscle cutting more painful. 'But it’s so worth it,' she said. Quinlan has been caring for her, though she admits to being overly independent. 'He’s been a rock for me,' Sanderson said, adding that Quinlan cared for both her and their son in the early days.
The family returned home after three days in hospital and are adjusting to parenthood. Sanderson described the moment of holding her son: 'There’s no feeling like it.'
