A new mother has described her “week of hell” in a maternity ward in Princess Alexandra Hospital in Harlow, claiming the experience has put her off having more children.

Guardian reader Georgina was delayed access to the hospital in November and then had her new born son taken from her for tests without being offered an explanation.

This is her first-hand account:

"I gave birth to my beautiful baby boy on the 7th November 2014 but it was not a pleasant experience.

As this was my first pregnancy I called the labour ward two days before going in as I was having contractions.

I was told because I could speak I couldn’t be in that much pain, to grin and bear it basically.

For a week my waters had been dripping slowly but until they went I wasn’t to come in.

The next day my waters went.

It was a scary experience for my first time and my partner and I didn’t know if we were coming or going.

I was physically and mentally done. I was taken into theatre and had an epidural, and forceps delivery.

After all of the stress it was worth it I had a beautiful baby but things soon got worse.

He had an infection when he was born from where he defecated due to stress, or due to my water that had broken for a long time.

Both cases could have been avoided. I didn’t prepare myself mentally for staying in the rammed labour ward.

I stayed in for nearly a week and it was a week from hell.

The paediatricians came round every day and heel pricked my son.

His feet were like a pincushion, due to repeat testing, as staff didn’t communicate.

No paediatricians could tell me what was wrong, or what they were testing for. He was being pumped with antibiotics but I didn’t know why.

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 said he had his antibiotics and was on his way back to me.

Hours passed before I stormed down to find my baby had been pierced in his arms and legs yet again to find a vein to get the needle in.

I hated my baby being ill and not knowing what was going on.

My fiancé was taking days off work to be strong beside me and was there as much as he was allowed.

After the fifth day he had had enough and wanted to speak to someone who was in charge, someone who was higher up and could give us answers.

An hour later we were being discharged, I feel if it wasn’t for my fiancé pushing I would still be in there.

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.

I spoke to lot of women in the rammed labour ward who were in the same boat.

They told me wouldn’t have another child due to the experience upsetting them so much."

In a new series on the NHS, the Guardian will feature experiences of patients, their families and staff of treatment provided across east London and west Essex. As A&Es continue to struggle with demand and politicians argue over the future of healthcare, we will publish first-hand accounts, features and news stories on the latest developments. We want to hear from you if you have something to say about your local hospital, GP surgery, or clinic. Click here for contact details of reporters covering your area. Alternatively,you can submit a story here.