EASTENDERS’ Lauren Branning and Peter Beale are rocked next week as they receive heart-breaking news about baby Jimmy’s health.
The young parents are left reeling when doctors deliver a crushing diagnosis following a hospital visit, throwing their world into chaos.
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Next week on EastEnders, Lauren (Jacqueline Jossa) is cracking under the pressure of new mum life – and fears she’s failing baby Jimmy.
The struggling mum is clearly overwhelmed as she tries to adjust, with Peter (Thomas Law) doing his best to keep things afloat behind the scenes.
But while he’s lending a helping hand, he’s secretly fretting over Lauren’s past battle with addiction and whether history might repeat itself.
Things get worse after an awkward run-in with Cindy Beale (Michelle Collins), who begs Lauren to convince Peter to let her back into their lives.
The stress leaves Lauren in tears, convinced she’s not cut out for motherhood.
Luckily, Linda Carter (Kellie Bright) arrives with a thoughtful gift – and a bit of tough love.
Spotting the signs, she sends Peter out and opens up about her own demons in a heart-to-heart that gives Lauren a much-needed confidence boost.
Linda urges her to trust her gut – especially when it comes to worrying signs about baby Jimmy.
Tensions rise as Lauren and Peter prepare for their health visitor appointment, with the couple at odds over their baby’s health.
Lauren is growing frustrated after Belinda, the health visitor, dismisses her worries about Jimmy.
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But Peter becomes more concerned when Belinda privately hints that Lauren may be suffering from post-natal depression.
Meanwhile, Cindy has her own agenda, urging Ian Beale (Adam Woodyatt) to join her in supporting Peter through this tough time – though he’s not exactly on board.
Later, Lauren grows increasingly worried when she notices something troubling about Jimmy’s eyes.
Fearing the worst, she rushes to the hospital for an emergency appointment, convinced that Jimmy may be losing his sight.
Soap’s most harrowing teen storylines
We take a look at other harrowing teen soap storylines from soaps Coronation Street, EastEnders, Emmerdale and Hollyoaks.
Belle Dingle’s schizophrenia in Emmerdale – Belle’s (Eden Taylor-Draper) traumatic journey in Emmerdale took a dark turn when, after accidentally killing her best friend Gemma at just 16, her mental health began to spiral.
The storyline, which saw Belle struggling with her grief and guilt, showcased her battle with hearing Gemma’s voice inside her head, leading to a dramatic decline in her well-being.
Hannah Ashworth’s anorexia in Hollyoaks – Viewers were horrified as they watched Hannah (Emma Rigby), a seemingly innocent teen, spiral into dangerous behavior, starving herself in an attempt to achieve what she thought was the ideal body.
As Hannah’s condition worsened, the storyline became more intense, culminating in her being hospitalised for two months as she fought for her life.
Bethany Platt’s grooming ordeal in Coronation Street – Vulnerable schoolgirl, played by Lucy Fallon, was at the centre of one of Corrie’s darkest storylines to date when she fell under the spell of her older boyfriend and sexual predator.
The controversial scenes saw Nathan groom and manipulate the 16-year-old before coercing her into sleeping with his friends, with one of them raping her.
Whitney Dean’s abuse from Tony in EastEnders – Since the age of 12, she had been in a twisted relationship with her stepmum Bianca’s boyfriend, Tony King. The predator had groomed young Whit (Shona McGarty), making her believe she was in love and planning to run away with him.
On her 16th birthday, the traumatised teen finally revealed the years of abuse to Bianca. Tony was swiftly sent to prison sentenced for 13 years.
At the hospital, Lauren is frantic, demanding that someone examine baby Jimmy after growing increasingly concerned about his health.
Back at home, Peter panics when he returns with Louie to find Lauren missing, and his worry intensifies when Louie innocently mentions seeing Lauren take pills.
Meanwhile, at the hospital, Lauren’s anxiety catches the attention of her midwife, Hannan, who steps in and contacts Peter.
He arrives at the hospital with Ian and Linda, but is shocked when Lauren defends herself, adamant that she hasn’t relapsed.
Hannan, however, takes Lauren’s concerns seriously and arranges for a consultant to examine Jimmy.
When Consultant Miss Ayub examines the baby’s eyes, the devastating news comes: Jimmy is severely sight-impaired.
Lauren and Peter are left utterly stunned, struggling to comprehend the diagnosis and what this means for their son’s future.
After receiving the heart-wrenching news about Jimmy, Lauren returns home to the Square with her son, still grappling with the weight of the diagnosis.
She confides in Stacey Slater (Lacey Turner), sharing her fears and doubts, seeking comfort in the close bond they’ve always shared.
Later, she opens up to Lily Slater (Lillia Turner), who offers her support in a tender moment of understanding.
Despite the overwhelming circumstances, Lauren tries to reassure Peter, urging him to believe that everything will be okay.
As the couple shares a deeply emotional moment, they both struggle to come to terms with their new reality, but Lauren is determined to stay strong for their family.
Could this be just the beginning of a much bigger battle?
EastEnders airs Monday to Thursday at 7:30pm on BBC One or stream from 6am on BBC iPlayer.
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