Tennis star Serena Williams has opened up about the postpartum depression she suffered after welcoming her first child with husband Alexis Ohanian, daughter Alexis Olympia.
In her cover story for Harper’s Bazaar UK, the 23-time Grand Slam champion opened up about some of the most difficult parts of motherhood.
The 36-year-old athlete said of her postpartum depression, ‘Honestly, sometimes I still think I have to deal with it.’
‘I think people need to talk about it more because it’s almost like the fourth trimester, it’s part of the pregnancy,’ she explains. ‘I remember one day, I couldn’t find Olympia’s bottle and I got so upset I started crying…because I wanted to be perfect for her.’
Williams, who also suffered a near death experience when in labour with Alexis, is confident she has been a good role model for her daughter.
‘I hope I am, and I’m going to strive to be the best mum I can be,’ she says.
Following the birth of Alexis, Williams started to develop a shortness of breath and was told she had developed several blood clots in her lungs.
She was immediately given a drip, but when constant coughing from her opened up the scar from the c-section, her abdomen quickly filled with blood.
In the end, Williams had to have a filter inserted into a major vein to prevent any possible clots from entering her lungs, and was forced to go on bed rest for the next six weeks.
Williams told Vogue that she had struggled with becoming a mother.
‘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,’ she revealed.
‘No one talks about the low moments – the pressure you feel, the incredible letdown every time you hear the baby cry.’
‘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.
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