Hailey Tran
Serena Williams is a tennis superstar and one of the most successful athletes of all time. However, she faced a life-threatening situation in 2017 when she had an emergency C-section due to her baby's slow heart rate. The day after giving birth, Williams experienced breathing difficulties and suspected a pulmonary embolism, but her concerns were initially dismissed. Eventually, she underwent a CT scan, which revealed blood clots in her lungs, and she spent seven days in the hospital. This experience led Williams to reflect on the challenges faced by women, especially women of colour, in medical settings, and she shared her struggles with postpartum depression on Instagram.
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What You'll Learn
Serena Williams had a pulmonary embolism
Serena Williams, the tennis champion, has had multiple hospitalisations due to pulmonary embolisms. Williams has a history of blood clots and was hospitalised in 2011 when she experienced difficulty breathing. She was found to have a pulmonary embolism and a blood clot in her lung, which left her "on her deathbed".
In 2017, Williams suffered another pulmonary embolism after giving birth to her daughter via emergency C-section. She had been off her daily regimen of anticoagulants due to the surgery. She began to feel short of breath and immediately knew something was wrong. However, the medical staff did not initially believe her. Eventually, a CT scan showed that she had several small blood clots in her lungs, and she was put on an anticoagulant heparin drip. Unfortunately, a complication occurred when the blood thinner caused her C-section wound to hemorrhage. Williams had to undergo multiple surgeries and spent seven days in the hospital, followed by six weeks of bed rest.
Pulmonary embolism is a potentially fatal condition that occurs when a blood clot breaks free from the deep veins of the legs or pelvis and travels to the lungs. The symptoms of pulmonary embolism include chest pain, shortness of breath, rapid pulse, or a cough. It is important for individuals to be aware of the signs and symptoms of vascular diseases and to advocate for their health.
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She had a C-section
Serena Williams underwent an emergency C-section in 2017 when her baby's heart rate became dangerously slow during labour. The day after giving birth to her daughter, Olympia, Williams was short of breath and suspected she was having a pulmonary embolism, a life-threatening condition involving blood clots in the lungs. Williams had experienced blood clots before and knew the symptoms, so she alerted a nurse and requested a CT scan and a blood thinner (heparin). However, the nurse dismissed her concerns, attributing them to the effects of pain medication.
Williams persisted in her demands for appropriate medical attention, and when an ultrasound revealed nothing, she finally underwent a CT scan, which confirmed her suspicions of pulmonary embolism. She was immediately put on a heparin drip to treat the blood clots. Unfortunately, the delay in diagnosis resulted in a challenging recovery for Williams, who spent seven days in the hospital and had to endure six weeks of bed rest.
Williams shared her traumatic birth experience in a personal essay, reflecting on the challenges she faced as a Black woman in a medical setting. She emphasised that being heard and receiving proper treatment was a matter of life or death for her. Her story highlighted the disparities in maternal healthcare for people of colour in the United States, as Black women are nearly three times more likely to suffer from pregnancy complications and die during or after childbirth than their white counterparts.
Williams' courage extended beyond the tennis court and into the maternity ward, where she advocated for herself and ultimately saved her own life. Her persistence in seeking appropriate medical care underscores the importance of listening to and appropriately treating all women, especially women of colour, during and after pregnancy.
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She experienced heavy breathing and coughing
Serena Williams experienced heavy breathing and coughing due to blood clots in her lungs. Williams, who had given birth to her daughter via an emergency C-section a day prior, knew something was wrong when she began experiencing symptoms of heavy breathing and coughing. Having experienced blood clots in the past, she had no doubt that she was struggling with a life-threatening pulmonary embolism. However, when she alerted a nurse and asked for a CT scan and a blood thinner, the nurse suggested that pain medication had left Williams confused.
Williams, an American former professional tennis player, knew the importance of advocating for herself in this situation. She persisted in her demand for a CT scan, which ultimately saved her life. The scan revealed several small blood clots in her lungs, and she was immediately put on a heparin drip. Williams's experience highlights the challenges often faced by women, especially women of colour, in medical settings. It is reported that Black women in the U.S. have nearly three times the risk of dying from pregnancy-related complications than white women.
Williams's courage in advocating for herself despite feeling dismissed by medical professionals is commendable. Her persistence in seeking appropriate treatment is a testament to her strength and determination. She spent seven days in the hospital and endured a painful recovery, including six weeks of bed rest. Williams's story serves as a reminder of the importance of listening to women's concerns during and after childbirth.
Williams has used her platform to raise awareness about the discrepancies in maternal healthcare for people of colour in the United States. She has shared her traumatic birth experience to shed light on the staggering statistics around Black maternal health and mortality. Through her voice and influence, Williams is helping to create a long-overdue change in the medical establishment's approach to listening to and treating Black women.
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She had to go back into surgery
Serena Williams had to undergo surgery after her C-section wound ruptured due to violent coughing fits. Williams, who had given birth to her daughter the day before via an emergency cesarean section, began experiencing breathing difficulties and a persistent cough, which are symptoms of blood clotting. Her intuition proved correct, as she had a history of blood clots, and she knew the risks.
Williams demanded a CT scan and a blood thinner (heparin drip) to prevent blood clots, but her requests were initially denied by the nurse, who attributed her concerns to the effects of pain medication. Williams, however, persisted in her demands and was eventually granted the CT scan, which revealed several small blood clots in her lungs.
The coughing fits caused by the blood clots in her lungs were so violent that they ruptured the stitches of her C-section wound, requiring her to undergo surgery to restitch the wound. This surgery was the first of several that Williams had to endure during her challenging recovery.
Williams's experience highlights the importance of listening to patients' concerns and the need for better maternal healthcare, especially for women of colour, who are at a higher risk of pregnancy-related complications and mortality.
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She suffered from postpartum depression
Serena Williams is a former professional tennis player and one of the most successful athletes of all time. However, she faced serious health challenges following the birth of her daughter, Olympia, in 2017. Williams underwent an emergency cesarean section due to complications during labour and subsequently suffered from a range of issues, including blood clots in her lungs, a pulmonary embolism, and a hematoma in her abdomen. She also experienced a near-death situation due to a delay in receiving proper medical treatment.
Williams shared her struggles with postpartum depression in an Instagram post, joining a growing conversation about maternal health and mental health awareness. Postpartum depression is a serious condition that can affect new mothers, and it is even more common among Black women, who face higher risks during pregnancy and childbirth. In the United States, Black women are nearly three times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women, according to a 2022 federal report from the CDC.
Williams' experience highlights the importance of listening to women, especially women of colour, during medical crises. In her essay for Elle, Williams emphasised that "being heard and appropriately treated was the difference between life or death" for her. She also noted that many of the deaths among Black women during or after childbirth are considered preventable. By sharing her story, Williams is helping to raise awareness about the disparities in maternal healthcare and the need for better support for new mothers, especially in the Black community.
Williams' courage in speaking out about her struggles with postpartum depression has been praised, and she has become a powerful voice in advocating for improved maternal healthcare, particularly for women of colour. Her willingness to share her experiences has helped to shed light on the importance of mental health support during the postpartum period and has encouraged other women to seek help if they are facing similar challenges. Williams' impact extends beyond the tennis court, as she continues to inspire and empower women through her advocacy and activism.
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Frequently asked questions
Serena Williams was in the hospital due to a pulmonary embolism and several blood clots in her lungs, which she developed after giving birth to her daughter via an emergency cesarean section.
The day after giving birth, Williams experienced shortness of breath and suspected she was having a pulmonary embolism due to her history of blood clots. However, her concerns were initially dismissed by medical staff, who attributed her symptoms to pain medication.
Yes, Williams underwent several surgeries after giving birth. She had to go back into surgery to restitch her C-section wound after coughing so hard that her stitches burst. She also had to undergo additional surgeries to address blood clots in her lungs and a hematoma in her abdomen.
Williams described her experience as traumatic and felt that her concerns were not taken seriously by the medical team. She shared her struggles with postpartum depression and advocated for better maternal healthcare, especially for women of color, who face higher risks during pregnancy and childbirth.
