Serena Williams Underwent Multiple Operations After Child Birth
ghter, and was unable to get out of bed for the next six weeks.
Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. was born Sept. 1 by emergency C-section after Williams’ heart rate went too low during contractions. Everything went fine during childbirth.
The 36-year-old tennis superstar stated about the incredible moment when the baby stopped crying as soon as she was placed upon the new mother’s chest.
“That was an amazing feeling,” Williams said in an interview. “And then everything went bad.”
The next day while still in the hospital, Williams suddenly fell short of breath. She knew it was pulmonary embolism. A CT scan found several small clots in her lungs .
The condition brought on some intense coughing spells, one of which cause her C-section wound to come open.
During surgery to fix it, doctors discovered a large hematoma had flooded her abdomen as a result of hemorrhaging caused by the blood thinner.
Williams later had more surgery to insert a filter into a major vein, reportedly, a step taken to prevent further clots from dislodging and traveling to her lungs.
She spent an extra week in the hospital following the baby’s birth, then was forced to spent the next month and a half in bed.
But Williams has long since gotten back on her feet and started working toward her tennis comeback. She took part in an exhibition match in Abu Dhabi back in December but last week withdrew from the upcoming Australian Open.
She has her sights set on Margaret Court’s record of 25 grandslams and should be back later this year.
