Claire Emslie Makes Scotland Return Six Months After Giving Birth

Scotland forward Claire Emslie played for her country last Friday for the first time in over a year, six months after giving birth to her first child. Emslie, 32, started against Israel in a World Cup qualifying match that Scotland won 6-0. The team faces Israel again on Tuesday as it seeks to finish top of Group B4 ahead of Belgium and qualify for next year’s finals in Brazil.

She gave birth to a boy named Jamie after her waters broke while she was exercising in the gym. The delivery occurred a few hours later by Caesarean section, two weeks before the expected date of 27 December. Emslie told BBC Scotland that she and her husband Jonny had planned a normal day that included a swim and gym session before the birth began.

“My water broke in the gym. I was doing an exercise and as I stepped back, I felt it and I was like, ‘oh man, here we go’,” she said. She said the couple had not fully prepared for parenthood when labour started early.

“It wasn’t until we got to the hospital and they said we’d be going to surgery in an hour that the panic set in,” Emslie said. ” Emslie began pelvic floor physiotherapy three weeks after the birth and focused recovery work on regaining abdominal strength. She resumed training by mid-January 2026 and returned to club action with Angel City on 10 May, which was Mother’s Day in the United States.

“Through my whole pregnancy, my club were brilliant,” she told BBC Scotland. ” Emslie said the support from Angel City allowed a measured return. “After three weeks I started mobility work and slowly progressed from there,” she said.

She described playing for Scotland as the highlight of her career. “It doesn’t get better,” Emslie said. “As a footballer, playing for Scotland is the best thing. Going to a World Cup doesn’t get better than that.