HBAC - how far from the hospital would you think was ok?

[AllBoxedUp]

I am seriously thinking of going for a HBAC (had an ELCS for my breech DS 3 years ago). I do wish I lived closer to the hospital though. I am about 8 miles from hospital by the most direct route and on Google maps this is currently showing as a 30 minute rush hour journey. I know a blue light journey would be faster but that's just an indication of traffic etc.

It's probably too risky isn't it? Just really want to avoid the Delivery unit. Am I mad to consider it? Thanks.

I'm considering the same thing but I'm closer to the hospital. 10 mins in average traffic, faster in an ambulance. For me the risk is worth it, I think, I keep going back and forth on it.

Remember that's 30 mins from you being in the ambulance.

What if there's no ambulance available?

I've been out with paramedic crews on a job before where the crew said they were the only ambulance currently in the county.

13 miles here and it didn't bother the MWs at all (but not VBAC)

Probably 25 minutes on full blue lights. I've done it in the car in that easily when the tragic lights into town are on my side.

I can imagine it taking as long to fight into the city I used to live ins maternity hospital in rush hour. You'd be looking at 20 minutes at least all lights blazing from some of the suburbs

Hmmm. With No traffic I think you could get there in 15 minutes without speeding. I think the ambulances might be stationed at points away from the hospital as well. When DS was little we called one in a panic and it came quite quickly (thankfully but embarrassingly it was unnecessary).

I think I really want to give it a try but am normally quite risk averse. Thanks for the replies. Will chat to the Midwife about it next week.

Viva made a good point. The journey time (blues and twos included) is only a small part of the equation. Getting an ambulance to you takes time even though they have standby points scattered around, so it won't necessarily have to come from the hospital (but there are a scarily small number of ambulances available and not all of them will be free), getting into the ambulance takes time, getting out the other end and getting you to labour ward, getting assessed and getting into theatre (worst case scenario) all take time. Obviously if you're going in for extra pain relief then the hurry is less acute, but if you or little one need theatre NOW (which can happen, though is the other end of the spectrum) there's a lot more to consider than just the time it takes to get from your front door to the ambulance drop off point. If you started in a centre that has theatre etc on site, you can have baby out in 10 minutes. Although needing it that fast isn't common; it's usually aimed for within the hour. Goes for all transfers obv, not just your situation. In most cases the rush isn't that great and a mw will have a low threshold for getting you in early if she's worried about anything, but it's a balance of risks and probabilities that each mum needs to weigh.

Maybe I could do a house swap with my friend who lives 5 minutes away - sure she would love that! Am probably being ridiculous and wouldn't be do bothered if I could go on the Midwife Led Unit.

My thinking is I can always transfer into the hospital but I can't go the other way unless I book a home birth. I guess I could go for it with a very low threshold for transferring but I don't know how quickly things can go pear shaped. More reading needed I think but thanks again for the replies.

I would love a hb. I won't have one because I live at least 20 minutes away from the labour ward. I've known ambulances to take 40 minutes to arrive.