An expectant mother from Garston, who thought her labour had begun on Sunday, is still waiting to have her baby.

Helen Clarke, from Gardener's Way, was rushed to Watford General Hospital on Sunday evening after her waters broke.

After being promised a caesarean section several times, the 29-year-old is still waiting to find out her baby's fate in the hospital's maternity ward.

Ms Clarke said: “On Sunday they had a look at me and said I'd have to wait to see the registrar on Monday, and that I'd have to stay in for a caesarean section.

“However, the registrar came back and told me they were not going to do the c-section, and one of the midwives said my water hadn't broke and I had wet myself.

“They wanted to send me home for ten days with no water inside me. My lifestyle revolves around my five and six year old, I'm up and down to the school every day It's dangerous, if I fell over of one of my two boys jumped up at me, I've got no protection around the baby.”

After asking for a scan, doctors discovered Ms Clarke's waters had in fact broken, and she was told that she would have to stay in hospital for a caesarean today.

Then, after being woken at 5am and prepared for the operation, she was told once again that it would not take place.

She said: “One guy came in with a clipboard and told me 'I've got some bad news for you, we're not going to do you today', as if it was a haircut or a pedicure, and left me there crying.

“I've got two young boys at home, I miss them so much, one of them has a learning disability and finds it hard to deal with changes, I can't bear to be away from them any more. I put lots of things into place to make sure everything would be alright for them.

“My little boys are crying for me every night, I've had to get Darren, my partner's mum, to come down 250 miles from Scarborough on Monday to help look after them. She's got a life and a family of her own.

“I don't know when I'm going to have my baby, or whether it's even going to be ok."

According to the Royal College of Obstetrians and Gynaecologists, most women go into labour spontaneously within 24 to 48 hours of their waters breaking.

Membranes in the womb form a protective barrier around the baby, and when these have broken, there is a risk of bacteria and infection.

There is no treatment to repair the hole in the membranes or replace the fluid.

Paul Gough, from West Hertfordshire Hospitals NHS Trust, said that due to patient confidentiality, he was unable to discuss individual cases.

He added: “All decisions regarding patient care are taken around clinical prioritisation and appropriateness of treatment and this case was no different”.