Previous fast labours and living an hour from hospital - what to do?

[RainbowsMoonbeams]

My previous spontaneous labours were 2 hours from first twinge to birth and also 3 hours.

We live 1 hour 15 minutes from the nearest maternity unit with a CLU if things go pear shaped. To add to that, they are doing roadworks for the foreseeable, causing delays on top of that.

There is a lovely local hospital a few minutes away, but if you need an emergency section etc, you would have to get an ambulance to the bigger hospital, which is a risk.

I really don’t know what to do for the best. I had a previous miscarriage with retained placenta that resulted in needing emergency surgery to stop the blood loss (lost 3 litres). This puts me off the local one.

What would you do in this situation? Starting to stress me out!

Can you ask for a planned induction?

It has crossed my mind as a potential option. Not sure if they do induce for this reason, but I will ask when I see my midwife next.

It's against NICE guidance to induce women who have had previous precipitous labours (3 hours or less). You are best off asking your midwife or consultant to be honest as the hospital may well have a policy for how they would like you to approach coming in when you realise you're in labour.

I'd go for a planned homebirth, and risk a transfer if required.
DS2 was unplanned, paramedics for the last 30 seconds, homebirth.
Unless your previous issues are at high risk of repeating. But I don't fancy over an hour in the car in labour. Combined with needing childcare sorting as you've already got kids, you risk having an unsuported birth at the side of the road.