"My son was born with meningitis from the infection I contracted after having waters broken too early."

A mother’s experience of Oxford University Hospitals Maternity Services in 2013:

I was induced on the Friday afternoon, and they left me in active labour until the Sunday AM when I turned blue and passed out. The Dr was called on the Saturday morning to see about breaking my waters. The lady midwives said I wasn’t dilated enough, but the male Dr went ahead anyway. That left me and my baby open to infection.

I asked for a caesarean multiple times as I could tell nothing was progressing. My requests were ignored by the 5 or 6 midwives that checked on me during that time.

My son was born with meningitis from the infection I contracted after having waters broken too early.

I was rushed down for an emergency caesarean after I passed out and my then husband was left for hours not knowing where I or our baby was. They brought our son to him after about 3 hours of not knowing anything, and just left them in a room - no update on me or what had happened. He was very much affected by the whole situation and ultimately it was a part of the reason we later divorced as he could not get past that while we were still together.

Me and my son ended up staying in hospital for 3 weeks, with my son needing daily medication, lumber punctures and other procedures.

The whole experience has stopped me from ever wanting another child.