"I was happy to change diapers...Not being able to help made it harder": When Serena Williams' husband disclosed her post-birth struggle with bed rest
Serena Williams' husband Alexis Ohanian once opened up about the ordeal the tennis legend had to endure after giving birth to their daughter Olympia. Having suffered life-threatening complications during birth, Williams was confined to the bed for the first few weeks of their daughter's life.
Williams and Ohanian welcomed their first child, daughter Olympia, on September 1, 2017. However, their joy was disrupted by the former World No. 1's struggles while giving birth, as she had to be rushed for an emergency C-section after her heart rate dropped to dangerous levels during contractions.
Although Olympia was born safely, Serena Williams developed a pulmonary embolism, leading to emergency surgery where doctors found a sizeable hematoma in her abdomen. She later needed another operation to prevent blood clots from traveling to her lungs.
Even after the 23-time Grand Slam champion returned home, she was unable to fully enjoy the first six weeks of motherhood because she was completely bedridden while recovering from her ordeal.
In a 2018 interview with Vogue, Alexis Ohanian shared that he was happy to handle Olympia's diaper changes during that time, but revealed that Serena Williams struggled with not being able to care for their daughter. Ohanian emphathized with the former World No. 1, highlighting the frustration of feeling "trapped" in her own body.
"I was happy to change diapers, but on top of everything she was going through, the feeling of not being able to help made it even harder. Consider for a moment that your body is one of the greatest things on this planet, and you’re trapped in it," Ohanian said.
"I’ve broken down I don’t know how many times" - Serena Williams on experiencing 'low moments' after giving birth to daughter Olympia
During the same interview, Serena Williams opened up about the challenging initial months of motherhood, admitting that the "negative attitude" she sometimes displayed on court occasionally surfaced at home. She shed light on the "low moments" she endured, particularly when Olympia cried.
"Sometimes I get really down and feel like, Man, I can’t do this. It’s that same negative attitude I have on the court sometimes. I guess that’s just who I am. No one talks about the low moments—the pressure you feel, the incredible letdown every time you hear the baby cry," Williams said.
The 23-time Grand Slam champion also described the "insane" emotional upheaval she experienced as she cycled through feelings of anger, guilt and sadness while taking care of Olympia.
"I’ve broken down I don’t know how many times. Or I’ll get angry about the crying, then sad about being angry, and then guilty, like, Why do I feel so sad when I have a beautiful baby? The emotions are insane," she added.
Nevertheless, Serena Williams disclosed that welcoming her daughter had helped ease her stress about achieving further success in her career, explaining that "a lot of that anxiety disappeared when Olympia was born."