Astrid E. Kruse Andersen

Astrid Eline Kruse Andersen, (born 9 September 1926 in Oslo), is a retired Norwegian physiotherapist and the author of a book about preparing for childbirth Å få barn (in Norwegian). She married Bjørn G. Andersen (1924–2012) 5 July 1951 and they had 4 children. She is the daughter of teacher and priest Just Kruse (1886–1962) and Grete Eline Kruse (1893–1959), the sister of Erling O. Kruse (b. 1922) and cousin of Birger Tvedt (1910-2002).

Childhood
Kruse Andersen came to Svalbard with her family in 1935. Her father was Principal, teacher and vicar in Longyearbyen. She started and led the most northern Scout troop while still a young girl. Scouting was a lifelong dedication for her, and led her to meet with Crown princess Elizabeth during World War 2. Schooling was abruptly ended by the war as she was evacuated from Svalbard with her family under dramatic circumstances to Scotland in 1941 (see Just Kruse). Schooling continued at St. Dennis girl shool at this time evacuated to Drumlanrig Castle in Dumfries area.

Education
She was trained as a physical educator for children and youngsters at Liverpool Physical Training College, and got her exams as a physiotheraphist at Royal Southern Hospital in England. Bouth places there was given lectures in chil birth training. She finished her education at the State School of Gymnastics (today Idrettshøgskolen) and spcalisation in Obstetrics at Oslo Ortopediske Institutt (today Statens Fysioterapihøgskole) in Oslo.

Career
Professor Jørgen Løvset (1896-1981) at Kvinneklinikken in Bergen urged Kruse Andersen to come to Bergen as physiotherapist and lead the first childbirth classes and childbearingtraining in Norway in 1950. She has bin driving force in this work in Bergen and Oslo, Norway from then. This was also on her agenda when she worked As physiotherapist in New Haven, USA, joining her husbond Bjørn G. Andersen on his scolar at Yale University. Kruse Andersen has given lectures at Statens Jordmorskole and Statens Fysioterapiskole in Bergen, and was one of the pioneers in childbearing care in Norway.