Edwards' Syndrome

EastEnders character Whitney Dean will learn the heartbreaking news that hers and Zack's unborn baby has been diagnosed with Edwards' Syndrome on the BBC ...

"We provide parents with comprehensive advice and support whether they decide to end their pregnancy or to continue. "Well done EastEnders for tackling this difficult subject and we are pleased they involved us to help them treat the storyline with such sensitivity and compassion," Jane added. "We hope that this story resonates with the audience, and that we represent it as sensitively, and as accurately as possible," he added. The Chair of SOFT UK, Jan Fowler, also said the charity was "pleased" to be able to work with the hugely-popular soap. Determined to accurately portray the experience of receiving such a diagnosis, and the impact it has on both the parents and their families, they will also aim to sensitively portray the decision-making process. The testing plot will see the expecting parents faced with a difficult future for their family and a number of decisions will be made as they go along their journey.

EastEnders has announced an emotional new baby storyline for Whitney Dean and Zack Hudson, which will kick off later this month.

[The pair are expecting a child](https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a42059553/eastenders-spoilers-whitney-baby-story-confirmed/) following their brief fling at the end of last year, but they are set to receive devastating news later this month when scans reveal the baby has Edwards' Syndrome. The show also streams on BBC iPlayer. "Shona [McGarty] and James' [Farrar] performances have thoughtfully portrayed the realities of the diagnosis and the decision making process with compassion and understanding. [Whitney Dean](https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a42617314/eastenders-spoilers-whitney-dean-devastating-baby-news/) and [Zack Hudson](https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a42654820/eastenders-zack-hudson-confidante-hiv-storyline/). [EastEnders reveals exit for Martin Fowler amid Lily baby story](https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/a42636582/eastenders-martin-fowler-temporary-exit/) [EastEnders](https://www.digitalspy.com/soaps/eastenders/) spoilers follow.

EastEnders has announced that two of the soap's characters, Whitney Dean and Zack Hudson, will be at the centre of a storyline that will see their baby ...

"We hope that this story resonates with the audience and that we represent it as sensitively, and as accurately, as possible." Jan Fowler, Chair at SOFT UK, said: "At SOFT UK, we support families impacted by Edwards or Patau's Syndrome, and we were pleased to be able to work with the EastEnders team on how they could approach the story of Whitney and Zack’s baby's diagnosis of Edwards Syndrome in an accurate and sensitive way." The soap is working with the UK organisations Antenatal Results and Choices (ARC) and SOFT UK "to accurately reflect and raise awareness of Edwards Syndrome whilst sensitively portraying the tough decisions that prospective parents are faced with following a diagnosis".

The Walford resident is set to receive an upsetting diagnosis for her unborn baby. Shona McGarty as Whitney Dean in EastEnders. BBC.

[EastEnders](https://www.radiotimes.com/news/soaps/eastenders/) page for all the latest news, interviews and spoilers. A child with Mosaic Edwards' syndrome has an extra chromosome in just some cells, which can lead to milder symptoms of the condition and means that the child may live to adulthood. [subscribe now](http://radiotimes.com/magazine-subscription?utm_term=evergreen-article). According to the NHS, all babies with Edwards' Syndrome will have some level of learning disability and may also have heart, respiratory, kidney or gastrointestinal conditions. "Shona and James’s performances have thoughtfully portrayed the realities of the diagnosis and the decision making process with compassion and understanding," he added. We also support families whose living children have Edwards’ or Patau’s Syndrome," the charity said in a statement. If you’re looking for more to watch, check out our [TV Guide](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/tv-listings/) or [Streaming Guide](https://www.radiotimes.com/streaming-guide/), or visit our [Soaps](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/) hub. For more from the biggest stars in TV, listen to the [Radio Times View From My Sofa podcast](https://www.radiotimes.com/audio/podcasts/). [NHS website](https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/edwards-syndrome/), or visit [SOFT UK](https://www.soft.org.uk/) and [Antenatal Results and Choices](https://www.arc-uk.org/) for help and support. [terms and conditions](https://www.immediate.co.uk/terms-and-conditions/) and [privacy policy](https://policies.immediate.co.uk/privacy/). [Antenatal Results and Choices](https://www.arc-uk.org) and [SOFT UK](https://www.soft.org.uk) to raise awareness of Edwards' Syndrome whilst "sensitively portraying the tough decisions that prospective parents are faced with following a diagnosis". [Zack's HIV diagnosis](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/eastenders/eastenders-zack-hiv-test-newsupdate/) led to [health concerns about the baby](https://www.radiotimes.com/tv/soaps/eastenders/eastenders-spoilers-whitney-dean-pregnancy-worries-newsupdate/) – however, the situation is set to become more complicated due to an upcoming storyline on the soap.