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Tennis legends says she almost died during childbirth

Tennis legend

Serena in September 2017 welcomed a daughter Alexis with her husband and Reddit co-founder .

The 23 grand slam winner has opened up on the trauma she faced during the delivery of her daughter while calling for improved healthcare for pregnant women and new mothers around the world.

Traumatic labour for Serena

The 36-year-old revealed that she was forced to have an emergency c-section to give birth to her daughter after her heart rate started to drop.

Serena also suffered shortness of breath after delivery and it scans revealed that she had several blood clots in her lungs.

She was then given anticoagulant drugs through drip which caused her to cough constantly from pulmonary embolism leading to the scar from the c-section to open and blood filled her abdomen.

The tennis star was saved by doctors who inserted a filter into a major vein to prevent anymore clot from entering her lungs.

She was on bed rest for six weeks.

“If it weren't for their professional care, I wouldn't be here today,” she said in an op-ed for .

“Every mother, everywhere, regardless of race or background deserves to have a healthy pregnancy and birth. And you can help make this a reality.”

“I almost died after giving birth to my daughter, Olympia. Yet I consider myself fortunate.

“I am so grateful I had access to such an incredible medical team of doctors and nurses at a hospital with state-of-the-art equipment. They knew exactly how to handle this complicated turn of events.”

Serena's comeback

Serena is working with UNICEF to raise awareness on the dangers pregnant women and new mothers face all over the world.

After giving birth, Serena in December returned to the court at the 2018 World Tennis Championship in Abu Dhabi.

She lost the exhibition game to French Open champions Jelena Ostapenko 62, 3-6, 10-5.

She also played at the , competing and losing a double’s game alongside her sister Venus.

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