Junko Miura-Mainali

About Me

My doula service
I am a mother of two children (19 year old girl and 16 year old boy). Both my children where born at Queens Charlotte’s Birthing Centre and came to the world with few exhalations.

I live a simple holistic life with my family. My husband, my children and my 3 years old cat, whom brings enormous joy, strength and hope into my life.

Doulaing for pregnant women is my natural intuitive and I always feel compassionate and affection to the women I support. So far, I have been helping women as a doula for 12 years, and about 250 births. It does not sounds like a lot compared to a midwife helping thousands of women in a year, however I take care of one or two women in a month and try my best to have a close relationship with them through their pregnancy, birth and post natal period.

I trust the women’s natural instinct to give birth, however sometimes both the physical and emotional fear and weariness of birth will stop this natural instinct. We will go through your birth journey together for you to be at ease and experience the reality of birth, your body, your mind and to be true to yourself before the birth and do whatever is right for you during labour. You will discover your own unique way and strength to experience YOUR OWN satisfying and positive birth.

I also believe that childbirth is the key event in a women’s life and something that will be remembered forever. Therefore it is best to become active participants dealing with your labour to the best of your ability with love, care and support, whatever the circumstances.

My role as a birth doula, I provide continuous care. 
Throughout pregnancy I share information and knowledge from both current medical evidence as well as ancient birthing wisdom to be able to make your choices gradual and I will adjust to each individual needs. We will continuously be connected through email, video, telephone and text.

During labour I will empower you as much as possible to do your best. The birth may change courses from the birth that you may have envisioned but through any situation I will be with you and will never cease to look out for your own good.

After the birth I will wait to see how you and your baby will be doing immediately. If it is necessary I will help to initiate breastfeeding by good latching and good attachment.

When you go back home I will continue to support your breastfeeding and how to look after your new baby in your own time and your way so that you receive the continuity of care. We will also talk and celebrate the new life of the baby!

Dads also has a crucial role, I will also support him emotionally and practically. Dad, me and the medical team will all support you as a team for you to feel secure.

Yoga with me
Yoga is my life. I have been practicing ancient traditional yoga for the last 21 years and teaching yoga for last 18 years to over thousands of women. My husband and I run a yoga retreat centre in Nepal. I have been teaching at the Portland hospital for the last 12 years for pregnancy yoga, mother and baby yoga and well woman yoga. I also teach one to one individually. I work with a physiotherapist closely especially dealing with women’s pelvic floor which is an important parts for childbearing and beyond.

My daily personal practice starts everyday at 5 am. It has become great support in my work as a doula, (and Yoga teacher, mother, wife), and of course tremendously helped my own pregnancy and labour. Yoga is truly holistic, body, mind and spiritual development. I try my best to impart my knowledge to all women who look for true holistic well being.

Whilst teaching yoga to thousands of pregnant women I have also been learning a lot with them. There are still a lot of people think that yoga increase physical flexibility, strength and stamina. It is absolutely true because there are specific muscles involved in childbirth, but that is not everything. Yoga increases your awareness of what is happening within you. Yoga creates connection to your own nature. You are going to your own world and find your own self. That is the main goal of Yoga and birth as well. I would like to guide you to be able to understand and connect yourself and do your best for your birthing child through Yoga practice.

The physical problems during pregnancy such as PGP (Pelvic Girdle Pain), back ache, sciatica etc.. can be identify through your habits and can be made easier by doing daily yoga practice. Practicing yoga regularly can lead to create the baby’s optimal position for an easier birth, too.

Also, breathing is a powerful tool and has a positive effect during pregnancy and labor. The breathing practice helps emotional levels, self awareness, for a sense of calmness and to connect more to you and to your baby. 100% of the women who have I helped has said that “Breathing was great to learn and has helped me a lot during labour”. I experienced with my own labour and have witnessed its positive effect on many women.

I truly recommend all women to practice yoga regularly.

My experience as a doula
I have supported numerous women who has come from different background/nationalities. Majority of women in my care were able to have a natural physiological labour and a birth with no pain relief. They coped with breathing, poses, birth balls, birthing pool, shower, massages, acupressure, aromatherapy, homeopathy, rebozo (using large shawl). Some used TENS machine and entonox (gas & air). On other occasions, I had also supported medical interventions use of epidural, induction and C-section. I have also supported VBACs, mums over 40’s, IVF mums, single mums, twins, and second or third birth mums who had traumatic or difficult experience at their first birth.

I have supported births at the following hospitals and birth centres:

West London (Queen Charlottes NHS/private, St Mary NHS/Lindo Wing)

Central London (Portland, UCLH, St Thomas)

South West London (Chelsea & Westminster NHS/Kensington Wing, St Georges, Kingston, Epson, Royal Berkshire)

North/North West London (Royal free, Whittington, Barnet, North Middlesex, Watford)

East (Barkentine birth centre, Homerton, Whipps Cross, Queen Elizabeth)

Outside of London
Cambridge (Rosie hospital)

Oxford (John Radcliffe hospital)

and number of home births.

If you would like to know more about me please visit here: http://matriyoga.com/aboutme.html

If you would like to know more about yoga please visit here: http://matriyoga.com/yoga.html

If you would like to know little more about doula please visit http://matriyoga.com/doula.html

but is the best to chat online, free of charge!

These are few examples of the words from a midwife I work with:
✴It has been a huge pleasure to have Junko with us today and has massively helped us to care for M. She is incredibly receptive to her client’s needs and knows everything about their wishes. She has such a loving close relationship with her client that I actually thought she was family! She was quickly and accurately been able to translate all medical terminology today between her clients and every member of the obstetric team. Would love to see you on QCCH labour ward again!

✴It’s been a pleasure to work with Junko in looking after during labour. Junko was very supportive and able to have a strong relationship with the woman. She gave very good advise to A and helped her a lot during labour, breastfeeding and after birth. Junko is a great doula!!

✴It was a pleasure to work alongside Junko in supporting M during labour. Junko was kind, friendly, sensitive and an excellent communicator with both M and the birth centre staff. Junko was a true advocate for M at every step of the way. The bond and mutual respect was lovely to watch. Many thanks and Best wishes!

✴Found Junko a pleasure to work with! She supported the woman amazingly and put her at ease through labour. I can see she is able to build such a strong bond with her clients and I definitely benefit from her presence. I would love to work with Junko again and really appreciate her help tonight : )

If you would like to read other midwife words please visit; http://matriyoga.com/midwife.html

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