Lauren Branning is facing one of the darkest chapters of her life in EastEnders, as new episodes bring a heartbreaking cocktail of addiction suspicions, emotional breakdowns, and a shocking medical diagnosis for her newborn son, Jimmy. While she tries to navigate the already overwhelming experience of new motherhood, ghosts from her past resurface—and secrets buried deep begin to poison the present.

Following a traumatic club accident last year that left Kojo Assari injured and unconscious, Lauren was left with physical pain and emotional scars. Cindy Beale, attempting to cover her own tracks and buy Lauren’s silence, provided her with painkillers. It wasn’t just hush money—it was the beginning of a dangerous spiral. Now, with the birth of baby Jimmy (named after her beloved grandfather Jim), Lauren is struggling—not just with caring for her son, but with the whispers of relapse that begin to grow louder around her.

Peter, concerned about her erratic behavior and remembering Lauren’s history with addiction, starts to suspect she might be using again. He watches her closely, confused and frightened, while Lauren battles feelings of failure and despair. Her confrontation with Cindy intensifies everything—Cindy wants Lauren to convince Peter to let her back into their lives. The emotional manipulation weighs heavily on Lauren, who is already overwhelmed by the demands of motherhood and haunted by self-doubt.

In a tender moment, Linda Carter visits Lauren. Their conversation about substance abuse and shared recovery offers Lauren a brief glimmer of hope. It’s a much-needed lifeline. Encouraged, Lauren begins to focus more on her instincts as a mother—and those instincts are screaming that something is not right with baby Jimmy. She becomes convinced that her son isn’t responding to visual cues and begins to suspect that he may be blind.

As tensions with Peter escalate, a visit from health worker Belinda leaves Lauren frustrated and unheard. Belinda casually dismisses Lauren’s concerns, and privately suggests to Peter that Lauren may be suffering from post-natal depression. Peter’s worry grows. Meanwhile, Lauren becomes increasingly alarmed—especially when she looks into Jimmy’s eyes and is sure that something is deeply wrong. Desperate and afraid, she demands an emergency hospital appointment.

While Peter and Louisie return home to find Lauren missing, Louisie mentions seeing her take pills—a revelation that pushes Peter into panic mode. Has Lauren relapsed? Or is there something deeper going on?

At the hospital, midwife Hannon calls Peter, who rushes over with Ian and Linda by his side. But instead of comfort, Lauren is met with horror—Peter believes she’s using again. That pain is compounded by the dismissiveness surrounding her genuine fear for her son’s health.

Finally, Hannon decides to take Lauren seriously. A consultant is brought in to examine Jimmy. After a thorough check, the couple is devastated by the news: their baby is severely sight impaired. The moment hangs heavy in the air as Peter and Lauren try to process what it means for Jimmy’s future—and for theirs.

Back on the Square, Lauren finds a moment of peace in conversation with Stacey Slater and Lily, who provide the understanding and comfort she desperately needs. At home, Peter and Lauren share a quiet, emotional scene as she tries to reassure him—and herself—that they will find a way through this together. But can love and determination be enough to guide them through the storm ahead?