When to go hospital

[Sp1rals]

I'm a bit away yet but was just wondering..

I have had two long labours, very long, even with waters broken and oxytocin drip. Also two very big babies. This will be my third.

I found the hospital experience traumatic and am keen to labour for as long as possible at home (though have failed to progress both times so probably won't make a difference). However people keep telling me that because this is my third I should head to hospital sooner rather than later when the time comes.

I live about an hour from the hospital. My consultant is telling me to come in when I want, I keep telling him I don't want :-(

Anyway what would you all recommend in terms of contraction times etc for a third labour and does the fact my others were so slow make a difference?

You've probably already ruled this out but would a home birth be an option?

Unfortunately not :-( Both required episiotomies in the end and both needed help breathing when they came out.

Usual advice I believe is to head to hospital when contractions are 4-5 minutes apart. Although if you have an hours drive maybe go with every 5-6 minutes? x