The new mum is calling for change after almost dying giving birth to her daughter…
Serena Williams welcomed her first child with Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian in September, with the couple announcing that they were expecting just five months before.
Since the arrival of baby Alexis Olympia, the 36-year-old tennis pro has been very open about the traumatic details of the birth, which apparently almost killed her.
In a recent Op-Ed with CNN, Serena opened up about her near death experience in a bid to call for change for future mothers everywhere.
‘First my C-section wound popped open due to the intense coughing I endured as a result of the embolism,’ she explained. ‘I returned to surgery, where the doctors found a large hematoma, a swelling of clotted blood, in my abdomen. And then I returned to the operating room for a procedure that prevents clots from traveling to my lungs.’
She continued: ‘When I finally made it home to my family, I had to spend the first six weeks of motherhood in bed.’
So why is she opening up about the traumatic details now? Well, Serena is calling for change - aware that her access to the very best medical care could have saved her life.
‘I am so grateful I had access to such an incredible medical team of doctors and nurses at a hospital with state-of-the-art equipment,’ she explained. ‘They knew exactly how to handle this complicated turn of events. If it weren't for their professional care, I wouldn't be here today.’
And that’s exactly what she wants for mothers everywhere.
‘According to UNICEF, each year, 2.6 million newborns die, tragically before their lives even really get started. Over 80% die from preventable causes,’ she explained, ending with a call to arms:
‘Every mother, everywhere, regardless of race or background deserves to have a healthy pregnancy and birth. And you can help make this a reality. Together, we can make this change. Together, we can be the change.’
We’re in.
