"It's like, 'Wait, what's going to happen?'" - Serena Williams lays bare her worries after learning about childbirth during pregnancy
Serena Williams recently opened up about her worries upon learning about childbirth during her pregnancy. The 43-year-old further expressed how she shared her experiences with friends, addressing topics that had not been discussed.
Williams is regarded as one of the most decorated tennis players ever, with 23 Grand Slam titles—the most by any female player. Notably, her 23rd Major title came at the 2017 Australian Open, when she was eight weeks pregnant with her first daughter, Olympia.
In a recent interview with Glamour, Serena Williams candidly described her reaction upon learning about the childbirth process.
"It’s like, Wait, what is going to happen?” she exclaimed. That’s going to open? What?” I try to tell all my friends that’s normal, and I try to be very open with my experience and the things that people didn’t talk about with me. ‘How is that going to come out of me?’ I know it’s been going on since the beginning of time, but it just doesn’t seem to work,” she said.
However, Olympia's birth was fraught with complications, as per Serena Williams, who previously revealed her terrifying experience with life-threatening issues following the delivery. Her health started deteriorating with the onset of a pulmonary embolism, followed by a series of complications.
"I just want her to always think positive": Serena Williams on encouraging Olympia to think nice of others
In an interview with CNN earlier this year, Serena Williams revealed that she has become more "forgiving" regarding her body image and that of others since giving birth to Olympia. The American emphasized encouraging her daughter to think positively about others.
"I'm more kind about body image, I’m more forgiving. And then it’s not only that, it’s how I also talk to my daughter. I always tell her, 'Say something nice. Is there something nice you can think of about this girl?" Williams said.
"Because I just want her to always think positive about other people as well. Because that cattiness and that mental health is really not healthy. So I think it just starts at such a young age of just encouraging positive views and positive feedback and positive words that are coming out of your mouth," she added.
The 43-year-old began her relationship with Reddit co-founder Alexis Ohanian in 2015, and the couple married two years later. Two months before their wedding, they welcomed their daughter, Olympia.
Williams and Ohanian welcomed their second daughter, Adira River, in August last year. The couple often shares highlights from their lives on social media.