Lotus Midwife is an Independent Midwifery Practice, provides antenatal care, support during your baby's birth, and postnatal care for six weeks.
Berkshire Independent Midwifery Practice is a new service launching in January 2016. I am Sarah March, registered Midwife, International Certified Lactation Consultant and Tongue-tie Practitioner. A Birth mother myself to three children, (one Vaginal Breech Birth, one Homebirth, one Premature Emergency Cesarean), and I am also blessed to have two grown up children who complete my Family. I offer tailored Antenatal care, unhurried and relaxed in your own home; this can be one off appointments in addition to your NHS care, or part of a complete package. For your Labour and Baby's Birth, I am experienced in Homebirth and Waterbirth, however can accompany you to your hospital birth if desired. Most hospitals do not provide insurance for independent midwives, therefore if you chose a hospital birth, (or we transfer there in the event of a complication) I can accompany you as your advocate. Postnatal support is available for six weeks following the birth of your baby, I visit you at home daily to start, and can assist you with all aspects of feeding and caring for your newborn. As a Lactation Consultant, I specialise in Breastfeeding support and can offer one to one breastfeeding antenatal and postnatal sessions, also as a one off appointment or as part of your pregnancy package. I specialise in tongue tie assessment and am qualified to perform frenulotomy (the division of the tongue tie) in babies up to six months old. Other services include:
Support and Advocacy for Consultant appointments,
Birth Plan preparation,
Previous Birth Debrief,
Pregnancy Belly Casting and Birth Art! Please do call for a chat if you feel an independent midwife might be right for you, i would be happy to answer your questions!
06/12/2025
🌟 Hand expressing technique for antenatal colostrum harvesting or early days hand expressing breastmilk.
🌟 key points:
- massage, stroke your breasts before you even begin to express, this helps you to boost the oxytocin which will help you to release the milk.
- using your thumbs and index finger, rhythmically and gently press - don’t roll your ni**le or pinch the end of your ni**le, use as much pressure as feels comfortable.
🌟 If you have any questions feel free to pop them below!
🤱Sarah March,
Registered Midwife
IBCLC
Tongue tie practitioner.
🌟 A delay in the onset of copious milk production can be caused by losing too much blood at birth.
🌟 Your body will put energy into making you well first, before making the milk-but rest assured the milk will come once your body has righted itself.
🌟 A compromising amount of blood will be different for each individual-your midwife will be able to advise you on your total estimated blood loss soon after the birth, and will certainly let you know if you have lost too much to make you unwell.
🌟 For help with low milk supply, please reach out to a skilled IBCLC for help,
🤱Sarah March,
Registered Midwife
IBCLC
Tongue tie practitioner.
🌟 What does the placenta have to do with milk supply?
🌟 The birth of the placenta causes a drop in progesterone which then allows your prolactin levels to rise. This promotes the onset of copious milk production.
🌟 If a piece of placenta is left behind, your body will not have the dramatic drop of progesterone - which can then cause a delay to the onset of milk production.
🌟 If you are concerned about your milk supply, do message or comment and I’ll do my best to help!
🤱Sarah March,
Registered Midwife
IBCLC
Tongue tie practitioner.
🌟 Pumping to increase your supply? Have you tried the 5-4-3-2-1 technique?
🌟 This technique tries to mimic baby’s behaviour when they stop and start feeding - stimulating behaviour- to try and signal to your body to urgently make more milk.
🌟 It also tries to boost more oxytocin releases which would stimulate multiple let downs in one pumping session.
🌟 If you have concerns over milk supply, please do reach out to an IBCLC and we would love to help you!
❤️
🤱Sarah March,
Registered Midwife
IBCLC
Tongue tie practitioner.
🌟 Did you know that it takes 3-5 days for your body to either increase or decrease milk supply, depending on the increase or decrease in stimulation?
🌟 The key is to be consistent-milk supply changes do not happen instantly, your body needs time to recognise there’s an increase (or decrease) in demand and takes time to adjust.
🤱Sarah March,
Registered Midwife
IBCLC
Tongue tie practitioner.
🌟 Did you know that a breastfed baby born at term, who is peeing, pooping and growing as expected, can have ONE 5-6hr period with no food?
🌟 If they did have a 6hr gap between feeds, they MUST have a minimum of 8 feeds, in the remaining 18hrs of the day.
🌟 It’s most unusual for a baby to do this long a stretch, but if your baby does do this, make sure that they are having their minimum of 8 feeds, and that they are peeing, pooping and growing 👶🏻
🤱Sarah March,
Registered Midwife
IBCLC
Tongue tie practitioner.
Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Lotus Midwife posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.
My experience as a midwife has taught me that for birth to unfold well, we (midwives) must build a good strong relationship built on trust with the mother and her birth partner. I work to build this trust over regular appointments in your home at a time convenient for you both and these usually last 45mins, but can take longer if needed.
The first appointment takes around two hours to take a full history, and subsequent appointments include your clinical checks as well as emotional support, preparation for the birth and resources such as DVDs and books. The birth plan preparation at 36 weeks takes some time, so to ensure that you are well informed. Should your baby decide to wait a little longer to arrive then the extra antenatal visits at 41 and 42 weeks are included too, as are information books such as 'induction of labour ', 'GBS' etc which we would take time to make sure that you have all the information to make an informed decision.
If your baby decides to arrive prematurely (before 37 weeks) I shall endeavour to be there to support you at the birth, and care continues for the full antenatal and postnatal period past your due date. I am experienced both personally (my own son arrived at 32 weeks) and have a wealth of professional experience regarding caring for and feeding babies who are born prematurely.
I am available to you throughout your pregnancy for any questions or concerns, via telephone or email outside of our scheduled appointments and I am able to attend consultant appointments and extra scans with you if this is needed in your care plan.
I also lend a birth pool (saving you around £150 for hire) and a Tens machine (another £50 saving) so that you have them if you would like to use them, and I deliver these to you at 36 weeks. Should you plan a homebirth, I can assist you and your partner with the preparations.
From 37 weeks- I would be 'on call' for you, and therefore stay close to home so that I can attend to you when you feel you need me. When the day of your baby's birth comes, I am able to attend to you in labour and support you during the birth, whether at home or in hospital.
Labour and Birth Care
I am fully insured for Labour and Birth Care through 'My Midwife and Me'
Includes: Full Midwifery Care throughout your pregnancy (booking from 8-12 weeks) regular antenatal appointments, birth preparation, breastfeeding antenatal session, On call from 37 weeks of pregnancy, support for your hospital or homebirth and full postnatal care for both mother and baby for up to six weeks.
Also includes Birth Pool and TENS machine loan.
Cost: £4500
For Families looking for midiwfery care later in pregnancy, please be aware that the cost is the same. This is sadly due to insurance, and all the fact that when Independent Midwives take on care at such a late stage, there's often a lot of complex history and a lot of work to do between the IM and the family and less time to do that in. Ideally, please book no later than 36 weeks of pregnancy, so that there's time for birth preparation and time for me to get to know you and your preferences.
