First pregnancy I lived approx 5 hours from my chosen hospital and just over 2 from the closest maternity hospital, I was down for antenatal appointments and staying with my mum when my waters broke at 28 weeks, we drove the 1.5 hours to the NICU hospital. I wasn't in labour though so it was quite smooth going.

Second pregnancy, we live 1.5 hours from my chosen hospital and 5 mins from the closest maternity hospital. Went into pre-term labour at 26 weeks, went to the closest hospital who put me in the ambo to the NICU hospital. It was quite scary, but I was very Naive and kept thinking it was a dream.... I then spent 8+2 weeks in and out of labour, in and out of my local hospital and then went into full labour at 34+2, again went to my local put in an ambulance and rushed to the NICU hospital. This time I knew it was real and there was no stopping it, I was very nervous and it was quite difficult to get comfy on the ambo bed... they arent wide enough or long enough!

I think you just do what you have to do at the time.... adrenaline takes over and you just cope.

All the best