MIDWIFE

Karen Juell

I have now been a midwifery for 20 years, and ever since high school, I have thought that I wanted to become a midwife. I am deeply fascinated by the female body and what it can accomplish.

My midwifery career started in Tromsø with my first internship at the maternity ward in Alta. There, I was available in the same way we are when waiting for women to give birth at home, around the clock. I got to see a wide range of normal births and learned a lot about how to support and disturb the process as little as possible. I have worked in a regular maternity ward at Ullevål, at ABC, at the normal unit at Ahus, and at a maternity ward in Burundi in Africa. In all these places, I have met midwives and women who have taught me a lot, and I am still learning. I have worked simultaneously at health clinics for almost all my years as a midwife. I am currently employed at Gamle Oslo health clinic, but I have taken some leave to work more with home births.

In recent years, I have had the opportunity to assist women giving birth at home, which has always been a dream for me. I really like the way it forces me to be humble when meeting expectant mothers and families. When women feel safe and supported, their intuition grows, and they can take the lead in the process themselves. I am passionate about women having choices in childbirth and making home birth an option for more who want it without them having to pay themselves.

Since 2016, I have been conducting postpartum check-ups and inserting long-acting contraception. I am dedicated to spreading knowledge about the female body so that women can make good choices for themselves. Starting in December, I will be offering postpartum check-ups through Min Fødsel.

I have taken various continuing education courses, including acupuncture training for midwives, continuing education in mental health during pregnancy and postpartum, various breastfeeding courses, and Newborn Behavior Observation (NBO).

For many years, I have volunteered at a health center for undocumented migrants once a month in a project on contraception and women's health. I have worked in Angola and Burundi for Doctors Without Borders. I also teach classes for multicultural doulas, in Norwegian language courses about women's health, and for families at health clinics.

I am married and have two children, both born at ABC. I like to stay in shape by jogging, swimming, cycling, skiing, and doing yoga. I am also a chronic knitter and sewer.