Amanda Ilestedt’s Journey: Balancing Motherhood and a Return to Top-Level Football
Arsenal and Sweden defender Amanda Ilestedt continued light training after announcing her pregnancy in March 2024, adjusting exercises under medical supervision to ensure safety for herself and her baby. As her pregnancy progressed, she faced complications that required her to stop training and focus on pelvic-floor exercises to prepare for childbirth. After delivering her daughter, Mila, via C-section on August 30, 2024, Ilestedt gradually resumed physical activity, rebuilding strength and reconnecting with her muscles.
Balancing motherhood and her professional career, Ilestedt managed her training schedule alongside breastfeeding, with support from her partner and Arsenal's accommodations. She made her return to competitive play five months post-birth, coming on as a substitute in Arsenal's FA Cup match against Bristol City on January 29, 2025. Reflecting on her journey, Ilestedt expressed pride in returning to top-level football after childbirth and hopes to inspire other women to see that it's possible to pursue both motherhood and a professional sports career.
In This Story
The players this piece is about.
Sources
More Videos & Highlights
Watch the moments behind the story.
1 min News Amanda Ilestedt makes national team debut for the first time after maternity break
1 min QB Originals QB ORIGINALS | LISAN ALKEMADE: PSV Eindhoven Goalkeeper on How Mainstream Media Treat Women's Football Goalkeepers
1 min QB Originals QB Originals | QB Break with Franny Černá | Coffee, Football & Life in Prague
1 min QB Originals QB ORIGINALS | “We Celebrated Like We Won the World Cup” — Klára Cahynová on Beating Barcelona
4 min Off The Pitch Focus on the pitch, relax in the paddock: These footballers are F1 enthusiasts
4 min Strong Story No longer a choice: Motherhood in modern women’s football
2 min QB Originals QB ORIGINALS | BÁRA VOTÍKOVÁ — First Czech Woman at Arsenal. On & Off the Pitch
1 min QB Originals QB ORIGINALS | First Game. New Country. Hattrick. Hallie Bergford Story
1 min The Best Actions NWSL expansion sides suffer defeats in season debuts
The Women's Africa Cup of Nations is here. Who are the Queenballer's players to watch?
Wolfsburg's Janou Levels before the quarterfinals: We’re in good form — now we have to show it.”
An emotional goodbye: Guro Reiten leaves Chelsea after seven years for NWSL champions
Madelen Janogy’s future remains purple after signing new Fiorentina deal
GIVEAWAY: Win VIP ticket for the Europa Cup game with Queenballers!
Historic Moment: London City Lionesses to Play Before First Sell-Out Crowd
The New Marta? OL Lyonnes Sign Promising Brazilian Talent Explore more from The Pulse
Keep discovering more stories from women's football.
