Lauren is set to bring her child Jimmy to the hospital amidst her fears
EastEnders star Jacqueline Jossa has said that her character Lauren Branning is ‘on a new journey’ as the show’s latest spoilers have revealed her baby’s health issues.
It’s been a manic few months for the BBC soap favourite, having survived an explosion at the Queen Vic, proposed to her partner Peter Beale and welcomed their second child into the world.
Last week saw Lauren have to put aside her differences with Cindy Beale, when no one else was there to help her during her time of need.
Sadly, things are going to take a turn for Lauren as scenes set to air on Monday, May 19, will see her struggling at home with baby Jimmy.
Fearing she’s a bad mum, Lauren receives a helpful pep talk from Linda Carter, only to later hear Peter admit on the baby monitor that he believes that her addictions will affect their boys for their whole lives.
Later in the week, Lauren is furious after their health visitor Belinda suggests at an appointment that she is suffering from post-natal depression and doesn’t share her concerns about Jimmy.
Lauren then brings Jimmy paediatric ward at the hospital and demands an emergency appointment as she’s worried that Jimmy is blind.
On Wednesday, May 21, Lauren and Peter are informed in the hospital that Jimmy is severely sight impaired as the parents are left reeling as they try to process the diagnosis.
Speaking to the BBC about the storyline, Jacqueline described how she thinks Lauren is feeling at that moment.
“I think it’s a real mix of emotions. The unknown is a scary place to be, and there is an element of knowing, that softens Lauren’s anxiety. She finally feels like she wasn’t going crazy, because everyone made her feel that way.
“The reassurance of ‘you were right’ helps her process. Lauren knows that there is a new journey they are about to embark on and pretty quickly Lauren jumps in headfirst into the new journey and sort of takes it in her stride.
“She thinks ‘we’re going to do this’ and ‘we’re going to do this together’,” she said.
The actress added: “Of course it’s not going to be an easy journey, and I think she does feel guilty, but that motherly love overcomes even the guilt in that first initial moment. She is determined to be there for Jimmy every step of the way.”
When it comes to Lauren’s initial worries about her baby, mum-of-two Jacqueline said that her fears are ‘a different experience than what she had Louie’.
“Granted, Lauren did struggle with Louie, like many new mums do, but this is a slightly different feeling. It’s a gut instinct that there may be something not quite right.
“She doesn’t know what, and I think that’s what makes her seem a little bit chaotic that week, but she’s not entirely sure what it is. He’s not latching on as much and he seems to be crying a lot more than babies tend to at the beginning, and on top of that she feels like the baby isn’t warming to her in general,” she shared.
According to Jacqueline, ‘the Beale family dynamic always overwhelms’ Lauren and they are not her ‘biggest supporters’ in spite of her being engaged to Peter.
“They have rarely been on her side, and she doesn’t really have that unit behind her. They seem to be on Peter’s side, and Peter’s side only. So, they only care about what’s right for Peter. If Lauren is right for Peter at the time, then they’ll be on her side, but if not, that’s when they’ll be her enemy.
“Lauren’s very aware of that, and I think she feels judged the whole time. Not just this week, but I think she’s felt judged throughout the whole pregnancy. Peter isn’t quite feeling the same feelings and concerns as Lauren. His gut instinct and motherly instincts aren’t kicking in yet,” she said.
