NEW UPDATE! Devastated Nicola sobs in EastEnders as she can’t see newborn baby after surgery

EastEnders spoilers follow for Thursday’s (April 2) episode, which is now available to stream on BBC iPlayer.

Nicola Mitchell (Laura Doddington) broke down in tears in EastEnders after the arrival of her newborn baby girl Ivy, who she wasn’t allowed to hold after her temperature spiked.

The nightclub owner, as viewers know, discovered last year that she was pregnant with George Knight’s (Colin Salmon) baby following a fling with the former Queen Vic landlord.

George vowed to support Nicola through the pregnancy, which she appreciated and the excited parents soon found out that they were expecting a baby girl.

This week, attention turned to the opening of Knight Fusion – formerly Walford East – which George has taken over after buying in, with some help from Nicola.

Nicola, meanwhile, was on the warpath after finding out that Penny Branning (Kitty Castledine) suspects Harry (Elijah Holloway) of being her unborn baby’s dad and thus ordered the market trader to take a test.

Penny refused to do so, confronting Nicola, who started having pains. The moment passed and the matriarch thought nothing of it, instead resolving to go home and have a bath, taking it easy.

But while at No.1, she started having contractions. George arrived soon after and, although Nicola insisted it was false labour as she was only 31 weeks along, the restaurateur suggested they go to hospital just to be safe.

Nicola sits in the waiting room at the hospital with Harry and Gina in EastEnders — Nicola was taken to hospital earlier this week
While at the hospital, Nicola’s waters broke and she was rushed into emergency surgery with a placenta abruption.

Afterwards, the doctors informed George that he had a newborn baby girl who was in the NICU. Nicola, however, had a temperature and thus needed to be kept isolated while she recovers, meaning she couldn’t hold or see her little girl.

The news left Nicola devastated, with George forced to keep his distance as he delivered the update.

Being separated from her daughter has left Nicola devastated (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

‘I’m her mother George’, Nicola responded through tears. ‘She needs me. Not in a week but now.’

George, meanwhile, headed to the NICU to meet Ivy, who he told all about her mum, assuring the little one that Nicola loves her very much.

EastEnders is working with Bliss, the UK’s leading charity representing babies birth premature of sick, to ensure the storyline is portrayed as accurately and sensitively as possible.

Nicola Mitchell sobbing in George Knight's arms at the hospital in EastEnders. — Nicola was taken to hospital earlier this week
While at the hospital, Nicola’s waters broke and she was rushed into emergency surgery with a placenta abruption.

Afterwards, the doctors informed George that he had a newborn baby girl who was in the NICU. Nicola, however, had a temperature and thus needed to be kept isolated while she recovers, meaning she couldn’t hold or see her little girl.

The news left Nicola devastated, with George forced to keep his distance as he delivered the update.

Being separated from her daughter has left Nicola devastated (Picture: BBC/Jack Barnes/Kieron McCarron)

‘I’m her mother George’, Nicola responded through tears. ‘She needs me. Not in a week but now.’

George, meanwhile, headed to the NICU to meet Ivy, who he told all about her mum, assuring the little one that Nicola loves her very much.

EastEnders is working with Bliss, the UK’s leading charity representing babies birth premature of sick, to ensure the storyline is portrayed as accurately and sensitively as possible.