Sara Bjork with son Ragnar and husband Arni.
Lyon midfielder Sara Bjork Gunnarsdottir, with her husband Arni and son Ragnar, was back playing for Iceland four months after giving birth

Football-playing mothers will figure in this summer's Euros like never before, with enough to form their own first XI and a handful of subs.

Five mothers make up the most of the line-up. The talk at one table during their last competitive meet-up was about babies.

The newest mum in the squad says that they were sitting with a coffee and talking about their birth experiences.

After giving birth to her son in November and with her sights set on a comeback in time for the Euros, the 31-year-old record caps holder now looks back on that chat as an important one.

She says that having a baby and coming back to the national team helped her.

It was inspiring for me to know that they did it, and it should inspire other women as well.

There are seven mothers trying to make the Euro squad and three of them made the cut.

After ending her season with minutes under her belt for club and country, she signed off with Lyon as a champion.

It was a return that two-time Icelandic sportsperson of the year Gunnarsdottir had to battle to make happen when she came back from the birth of her son.

First there were months of fitness training with a coach in Iceland to stay in shape while she was pregnant, and then similar exercises at Lyon as she worked her way back.

I had doubts. I don't know how my body will react when I get pregnant for the first time. You know how you're going to feel, but when you're pregnant, you don't know how your body is going to respond.

She returned to the pitch for 45 minutes in March.

She said in the middle of the game that it felt good.

The life away from the grass was not easy. Arni Vilhjalmsson had to stay in France for a few days a week to play for Rodez.

A babysitter and visiting family helped, but she was often home alone, getting only a few hours sleep and forgetting to eat.

She says she hit a wall or two when she was mentally and physically exhausted.

At the same time, I was happy. It's like a roller coaster.

I'm proud of that time because I worked so hard to get back to the shape I'm in and show other people you can be a professional football player and a mother at the same time.

It's the most difficult thing I've ever done, but I love it.

'I'm stressed about the Euros'

According to an employment report from Fifpro, only 2% of players are mothers, and many women quit because of a lack of maternity policies.

The terms of paid maternity leave have been set since last year.

Fifpro sees it as the beginning. The right backing is important for a successful return after a baby is born.

She says that you have to have a support system. When you bring a mother to a team, you're also bringing in a family.

They have to balance other things and sometimes it is hard.

Dagny Brynjarsdottir with her son Brynjar
West Ham midfielder Dagny Brynjarsdottir had her son Brynjar in June 2018

She rejoined the Portland Thorns in the USA's National Women's Soccer League and then joined West Ham in the Women's Super League. Both clubs are praised by her.

While their son was a baby, Portland paid for her husband to travel with her. If she ever needs to, she can bring her four-year-old son to West Ham.

TheIceland will face a different challenge because they only have their children under the age of one in camp.

The federation says there is no blanket rule and they try to help their mothers on a case by case basis.

The times of a home camp have been changed so that the squad can spend more time with their families before the Euros.

She knows this will be the longest she has been apart from her son.

She says that she is a bit stressed for the Euros because they will be gone for a long time. We're both attached to each other. When my son can't be with me, it's hard.

Every time you leave the hotel, use that time to see your family.

Demi Stokes playing for England against Belgium
England defender Demi Stokes' fiancee gave birth to their son in May

Teams have different policies. They can see their children on family days.

The Swedish FA is offering a family trip for relatives to follow the team and live together.

Her partner and children can't be with her. The federation will pay for a support person throughout the European Championship, which will be her fourth.

All the mothers on the team will support each other when they are missing their children, but hopes changes can be made to accommodate them in the future.

She hopes that better contracts will be made in the autumn. Some mothers go to camp to take a break.

It should be up to me to take him with me.

It won't be like that while I'm still playing, but hopefully for the younger generation, so it will be easier for the mothers who will be here later on.

Between them, the mothers of the country have more than 400 caps, but they hope to bring more than that to the table at the Euros.

She says that players are selfish because it's all about their career. You prioritize your baby now.

"I think that gives a good dynamic to the team because I myself feel more sympathetic towards my team-mates and others, but I'd like to hope it gives something to the team for sure."

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