Birch Midwife & Lotus Doula

My name is Amanda Dixon and I set up Birch Midwifery Practice to offer a level of personalised maternity care that I don’t believe the ‘one size fits all’ approach of the NHS can deliver. I am setting up Lotus Doula Services to continue this journey and try and provide a wider provision for women.

I have come to believe in a woman’s ability to give birth and that she needs individualised care. Birth is a very intimate experience so you should only be surrounded by people you have chosen and trust.

By working outside of the NHS, we are able to offer you individualised, holistic care. We will see you at mutually convenient times and spend time getting to know each other, during which time we hope to build a trusting relationship so you feel comfortable and confident.

We are committed to providing you with evidence based information and to assist you in making decisions and appropriate choices regarding your pregnancy and birth, including whether to give birth at home or in hospital. We are experienced in homebirth, waterbirth, lotusbirth and VBAC. (Vaginal Birth after Caesarean)

Birch Midwifery Practice is now Lotus Doula – a birth advocacy and doula service providing Antenatal Education, Hypnobirthing Courses and Pregnancy & Birth and Post-natal Doula Services – there is a doula out there for everyone and I hope I am the right one for you!

More about me

I live in Essex. I am married with four children, three of whom were born at home. Prior to becoming a midwife I was an antenatal teacher for the National Childbirth Trust and also branch chairperson. I trained as a midwife in Bournemouth and qualified in 2004 and I then began working in the NHS. We moved to Essex in 2005. My journey in Birth Advocacy is still evolving.

I was an ALSO (Advanced Life Support in Obstetrics) Instructor, qualified in Neonatal Life Support and Adult Immediate Life Support.

When I have spare time I enjoy reading, mostly supermarket fiction, DIY, walking the dog and talking to the chickens, Mildred and Dotty.

I am an advocate of reusable nappies and sanitary protection. If you are interested just ask.

I would feel privileged to share in this wondrous journey with you and your family providing you with the information and support you require to make the right decisions for you and your family.

Why Birch?

Birch is the first tree in the ancient tree alphabet and signals new beginnings and a new start – for you and your family, for the new baby and for us as a relationship.

Why Lotus?

The lotus blossom is a symbol of fertility and of newness . I also have a deep fascination for the third stage of birth (the birth of the placenta) and the word lotus is synonymous with a gentle placental birth.