Serena Williams opens up about how she ‘almost died after giving birth’
Serena Williams has revealed the life-threatening ordeal she went through when she gave birth to her daughter.
The 23-time Grand Slam winner had to have an emergency Cesarean section when she gave birth to Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr in September last year.
In a column for CNN, the American says she faced “six days of uncertainty” and now lives in fear of blood clots as it “sparked a slew of health complications”.
“I almost died after giving birth to my daughter, Olympia,” she wrote. “Yet I consider myself fortunate.
“While I had a pretty easy pregnancy, my daughter was born by emergency C-section after her heart rate dropped dramatically during contractions. The surgery went smoothly. Before I knew it, Olympia was in my arms. It was the most amazing feeling I’ve ever experienced in my life. But what followed just 24 hours after giving birth were six days of uncertainty.”
“It began with a pulmonary embolism, which is a condition in which one or more arteries in the lungs becomes blocked by a blood clot. Because of my medical history with this problem, I live in fear of this situation. So, when I fell short of breath, I didn’t wait a second to alert the nurses.
“This sparked a slew of health complications that I am lucky to have survived.”
The 36-year-old first revealed her ordeal during an interview with Vogue magazine in January and she received a lot of praise for highlighting an issue that rarely gets public attention.
And she once again appealed to people to “be the change” by donating to charities worldwide.
“Every mother, everywhere, regardless of race or background deserves to have a healthy pregnancy and birth. And you can help make this a reality,” she added.
“How? You can demand governments, businesses and health care providers do more to save these precious lives. You can donate to UNICEF and other organizations around the world working to make a difference for mothers and babies in need. In doing so, you become part of this narrative – making sure that one day, who you are or where you are from does not decide whether your baby gets to live or to die.
“Together, we can make this change. Together, we can be the change.”
Latest
-
ATP Tour‘I don’t feel like I need to justify the reasons for why I should get wildcards,’ says Andy Murray
“I don’t make the call,” says Andy Murray.
-
Tennis NewsStefanos Tsitsipas makes light of his infamous bathroom breaks, but keeps mum about vaccination status
“It’s very dry here. That is good for me because I sweat less.”
-
Tennis NewsCoco Gauff urges Emma Raducanu ‘not to focus on social media as it can be a bit overwhelming’
“Set time aside from the phone,” says Coco Gauff.
-
Tennis NewsWATCH: ‘Idiot’ Andy Murray needs your help as he lost his ‘sweaty and smelly shoes’ with his wedding ring
Do you know where Andy Murray’s shoes and wedding ring are?
-
WTA TourSloane Stephens ‘pleased to have squeaked out a win’ over good friend Heather Watson at Indian Wells
Former US Open champion Sloane Stephens battled back to progress.
-
ATP Tour‘It’s taken a little bit too long,’ but Andy Murray welcomes ATP probe into Alexander Zverev abuse claims
Alexander Zverev denies the claims made by his former girlfriend Olga Sharypova.
-
Tennis NewsWATCH: Emma Raducanu addresses fans in Romanian as her multicultural heritage shines through
Just Emma Raducanu speaking some Romanian.
-
Tennis NewsBianca Andreescu’s advice to young players: ‘Stay humble, stay confident, obviously, but don’t become stuck up’
“Don’t let it [fame] go too much to your head.”
-
Tennis NewsTim Henman on Emma Raducanu’s search for a new coach: ‘I’m sure there will be lots of interest in the job’
“She needs to sit down and see who is available.”
-
Tennis NewsLeylah Fernandez ‘can’t wait to compete again’ after receiving ‘pretty good advice’ from Maria Sharapova
“She’s a great inspiration to kind of look up to.”