Catarina Wentin (1637-1707) was a Swedish (originally German) midwife, official midwife of the royal court. She has been referred to as the most well known midwife in Swedish history.
Wentin was called to Sweden from Germany to deliver the future king
Charles XII of Sweden
Charles XII, sometimes Carl XII ( sv, Karl XII) or Carolus Rex (17 June 1682 – 30 November 1718 O.S.), was King of Sweden (including current Finland) from 1697 to 1718. He belonged to the House of Palatinate-Zweibrücken, a branch line of t ...
in 1682. On her own initiative, she was given a residence near the royal palace, the title Royal Midwife and a royal dispensation to perform her work in Stockholm under royal protection rather than under the supervision of the medical authorities. Supported by the queen,
Ulrika Eleonora of Denmark
Ulrika Eleonora of Denmark (11 September 1656 – 26 July 1693) was Queen of Sweden as the wife of King Charles XI. She is often admired for her generosity and charity.
The name ''Ulrike'' is a Danish version of the name; in Swedish she is ca ...
, she was active also among the poor of the capital. Wentin had great knowledge in medicine and was respected within medical circles. Though she did not publish a book herself,
Johan von Hoorn Johan
* Johan (given name)
* Johan (film), ''Johan'' (film), a 1921 Swedish film directed by Mauritz Stiller
* Johan (band), a Dutch pop-group
** Johan (album), ''Johan'' (album), a 1996 album by the group
* Johan Peninsula, Ellesmere Island, Nunav ...
referred to her in his book about midwifery, ''Den svenska wäl-öfwande Jord-gumman'' from 1697.
References
* Pia Höjeberg (Swedish): "Jordemor" (Midwife), Carlssons Bokförlag 1991. .
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wentin, Catarina
1637 births
1707 deaths
Swedish midwives
17th-century Swedish people
German midwives
Swedish courtiers
People of the Swedish Empire