I gave birth to my beautiful baby boy on the 7th November 2014 and it was not a pleasant experience due to the maternity team and the pediatrician on the ward.

As this was my first pregnancy I called the labor ward on the 5th as I was having contractions (4 every ten mins) due to what I was advised and that I live at least 30 mins from the hospital I called the ward. I was told as I can speak I couldn’t be in that much pain. So grin and bear it basically. Until I cannot take no more. For a week my waters had broke and was dripping slowly but until they went then I was to come in. On the 6th early hours my waters went. My mum called the labor ward again and I was asked how often I would fill up a sanity towel. I was changing every 10 mins. I was told not to come in yet. To keep all my sanity towels to bring in. I was having pains and because the liquid was clear I stay put. As I was booked in for a I was told to call the ward at 9 and and they will admit me in. at 9 am my mum called but was told as my waters had broken I was not needed in that ward and need to go to labor. As I wasn’t comfortable being so far away from the hospital, I went to my mums in Harlow. It was a scary experience due to not knowing and not been pregnant my partner and me didn’t know if we were coming or going. About 3 pm I couldn’t take it any more. I went to the labor ward and because I didn’t call to let them know I was very poorly treated. I eventually spoke to a midwife who checked me out and was told I was 4 cm dilated and I could go to the birthing unit, which I did.

The birthing unit is perfect. I was happy I was being monitored I was fine. I got to 8 and a new midwife checked me my baby’s heartbeat had gone up. I was whisked out and put into labor ward. When I got there. All was fine so I decided to stay there. I got to 10 cms and I was then told not to push and to rest for an hour. In that time I had had enough. I was in so much pain the baby had turned and was causing so much pain. In the mean time the baby was in state and had poo’ed which panicked me, as I wanted him out. I wanted another hour. He poo’ed again. I had a drip to speed my contracts I couldn’t do nothing. I was physically and mentally done. I was taken into theater; I had eperdrial, and forceps delivery.

After all of this. Which was worth it as I got beautiful baby things went to worse.

My baby had an infection when he was born either from where he poo’ed himself which was due to the fact the baby was stressed. OR due to my water that had broken before. Both cases could have been avoided. I mentally didn’t prepare myself for staying in. The labor ward was rammed. I stayed in for nearly a week and it was a week from hell.

The pediatricians came round every day and heel pricked my son. His feet were like a pincushion. Due to the tests they had to do. REPEAT tests, as they didn’t communicate. No pediatricians could tell me what was wrong? What they were testing for? He was being pumped with antibiotics but I didn’t know why. When I asked it was for precaution as he had an infection but they didn’t know what it was for. I have just been able to touch his feet, as he would cry. Which is heart breaking?

On one occasion I had woken to find my baby had gone down for his antibiotics and I cried, as I didn’t know where he was. I spoke to the mid wife who called the ward and he had had his antibiotics and was on his way back to me. 1 hour later. I asked again where is my baby and was told that he was having his antibiotics and will be down in a half hour. Hour later after I went storming down there, he was on his was down to me to find out he hadn’t had his antibiotics. He has been pierced in his arms and legs yet again to find a vein to get the needle in.

Every day I saw a different person. Everyday it as a test for this. A test for that!!! Nobody could tell me what for, why he was having this. Day in Day out I cried I hated being there. I hated my baby being ill and not knowing what was going on. My fiancé was taking days off work to be strong by me and being there as much as he was allowed. After nearly the 5th day he had had enough and wanted to speak to some one who was in charge, someone who was higher up and could give us answers. Hour later me and my partner went to speak to someone who was in charge and gave us some spill but was told if the results came back fine we could go home.

An hour later we were being discharged. We were going home. I feel if it wasn’t for my fiancé pushing I still would have been in there but if it weren’t for the lack of skill and professional service I would not have been in there in the first place. I will never go back to princess Alexandra hospital in Harlow ever again. It has put me off having another child, due to the neglect. It has defiantly scared me and I will avoid the place as much as I can. The sad thing is I wasn’t the only occasion, I spoke to lot of woman in the labor ward and birthing ward (as it was SO busy) and they was in the same boat. They wouldn’t have another child due to the experience had upset them so much.

Based on information supplied by Georgina.