‘It’s not been easy’ says Towie’s Lauren Goodger about co-parenting daughter with ex Charles Drury after assault charge

LAUREN Goodger has opened up about the struggles she's faced co-parenting her daughter with ex-boyfriend Charles Drury.

The couple tragically lost their second child Lorena during a traumatic childbirth in 2022.

They'd fallen pregnant just three months after welcoming their first child Larose in 2021 and Lauren was over the moon to become a mum for the second time.

Lorena, who Lauren described as the "most beautiful healthy baby she'd ever seen" died after her umbilical cord became wrapped around her neck.

On the day of the funeral, Charles was accused of attacking Lauren and they split soon after.

Charles was charged with assault and engaging in controlling or coercive behaviour towards Lauren, which he has denied.

The case was dropped after Lauren withdrew her support for the case, which resulted in a not guilty verdict.

The pair haven't had the most straight-forward of relationships and have split up several times over the years.

Charles was also accused of cheating on Lauren.

Lauren and Charles have since been working hard to raise their daughter Larose together, but she admitted it "hasn't been easy".

"It has not been easy, but we're at a place at the minute where it is running smoothly. Charles sees Larose very regularly," she told MailOnline. 

"It's a lot of travelling for me because he lives 3.5 hours away, and I meet him in the middle. It's not ideal but it is what it is." 

Lauren said that they have worked through their previous issues and are working together as friends.

Their daughter Larose sees both parents equally, which the Towie star says she doesn't want to change.

She said that Larose is her top priority and that she would never stop her daughter from seeing her dad.

Lauren said that the traditional family set up of getting married and having children doesn't work for everyone.

She said that she believes couples feel pressured to get married after having a child.

"I wouldn't go back in time and change anything because whatever's meant to be, is meant to be and I'm so grateful I've got Larose out of it," she added, speaking about her own family set up.

The TV star said that she would like to have another baby, but she's not looking to date anyone at the moment.

As well as Charles, her exes include Mark Wright, who repeatedly cheated on her and jailbird Joey Morrison, whom she split with shortly after he got out of prison.

Lauren recently shared she had rushed baby Larose to hospital.

Lauren explained on Wednesday that Larose had been preventing herself from going to the toilet and was refusing to eat or drink and becoming dehydrated as a result. 

She continued: “They would have kept Larose in but I said ‘listen, she'll be much better at home to sleep’.” 

“I knew that she would wake up and eat and drink and that's exactly what she's done.” 

Thankfully her daughter is now feeling better - although mum Lauren admitted she was exhausted having been up for days.