In February, it was still a bit too early.
But when national team captain Peter Gerhardsson selected his next national team squad, Amanda Ilestedt was included again for the first time since her pregnancy and the birth of her daughter Milla in the autumn.
Both Milla and father Rainer Müller were allowed to accompany her to the ongoing Nations League gathering in Gothenburg.
They were also on the train ride to and from Stockholm, where Sweden met and defeated Italy on Friday (3–2).
It's special, the first time, the first camp she gets to be part of, says Amanda Ilestedt.
I'm grateful that the association is supportive and backs us players when we get new family constellations.
Tough "life puzzle"
Enhanced support for players with children was the national team players' heart issue when the new player agreement was being worked out. Thanks to this, one hopes to avoid situations like the one before the European Championship 2022, when veteran Nilla Fischer chose to opt out of the championship due to the "life puzzle".
That was a bit our starting point in the negotiations. We shouldn't lose a single player because they can't make it work with their family situation, says Ilestedt's centre-back colleague Magdalena Eriksson.
Besides Amanda Ilestedt, Jennifer Falk and Filippa Angeldahl, two likely key players during the summer's European Championship in Switzerland, are also parents of small children.
The new agreement means that they, if needed, will be offered economic support for childcare or the opportunity to bring their children and partner or other relatives to national team gatherings.
Automatic extension?
Amanda Ilestedt is also grateful that Arsenal has been fully supportive. The London club, for example, brought in an external coach to support her both before and after the birth.
However, the conditions could become even better, she notes in response to a question about the new Norwegian agreement presented last week.
In the Norwegian top league, pregnant players will automatically be offered a contract extension if they have an expiring contract.
It's only good and I hope it happens more in Sweden as well, says Ilestedt, whose contract with Arsenal expires in the summer.
Yes, I have an expiring contract. But it feels okay for my part. I feel good and have been well taken care of. Then we'll see where we end up as a family.
