Being a mom is the greatest achievement and challenge for every woman – including a renowned athlete like Serena Williams. After embracing motherhood with the arrival of her first child, Olympia, she navigated through a series of challenging moments, confronting a life-threatening condition and dealing with postpartum depression.
Despite these obstacles, she remains candid about her struggles, offering an unfiltered glimpse into the emotional and inspiring trajectory of her adventure through motherhood so far.
Serena Williams is the proud mom of 2 daughters
In the early stages of Serena Williams’ tennis career, the idea of having children didn’t even cross her mind at all. Later on, she even openly shared her reluctance to bring kids into a world filled with challenges and unfairness. Furthermore, she figured that her children eventually get taken care of by others, as the athlete wasn’t exactly confident around kids back then.
However, a lot changed as she grew older and found love. On September 1, 2017, she welcomed her first daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr., alongside her husband, Alexis Ohanian (known for being Reddit’s co-founder). Then, 6 years later, in August 2023, their family grew even bigger after Williams gave birth to their second daughter, Adira River Ohanian.
However, as she matured and embraced love, Serena Williams’ perspective underwent a significant transformation. On September 1, 2017, her life took a joyous turn as she welcomed her first daughter, Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. with her husband, Alexis Ohanian (also known as Reddit’s co-founder). In August 2023, the Williams-Ohanian family expanded once again with the arrival of Adira River Ohanian, their second daughter.
But of course, being a mother poses some new challenges for Williams.
She almost died after giving birth to her first child
Speaking with Elle magazine, Serena Williams relieved the details of her first challenging childbirth experience. She emphasizes her 11-year awareness of a high-risk tendency to blood clots was instrumental in saving her life. Having faced a severe pulmonary embolism in 2011, Williams was extremely cautious of her health. This awareness proved invaluable as she promptly recognized the emerging symptoms of a clot following childbirth.
Serena Williams vividly recounted the moments following her C-section, where she experienced alarming numbness in her legs and intense pain, realizing she couldn’t move a muscle. Subsequently, as she grappled with heavy breathing and coughing – symptoms of blood clotting – her stitches ruptured, and the tennis player was sent back to the operating room.
Upon awakening, Serena Williams felt like she was “dying.” With the fear of losing consciousness looming, she mustered the strength to leave her bed and seek out a nurse, all while hiding the pain from her mother. Since that pivotal moment, Williams has to persuade the healthcare providers consecutively to secure a crucial CAT scan of her lungs.
Thanks to Williams’ persistence, she successfully convinced a doctor to conduct the CAT scan, and she was right. The diagnosis revealed a complex medical condition involving multiple clots, necessitating several surgeries for complete treatment. The ordeal left her utterly drained, as Serena only “wanted to be with her baby.” While the outcome ended up well, the delayed diagnosis resulted in a prolonged hospital stay of 7 days and an arduous 6 weeks of bed rest, making Serena completely exhausted both physically and mentally.
She struggled with postpartum feelings of guilt
The younger Williams sister candidly shared her experience grappling with negative emotions in the aftermath of giving birth, a period she refers to as “postpartum emotions” rather than “postpartum depression”. In a podcast discussion, she explained her intentional wording as a way to confront the stigma often linked with terms like “depression.” Williams emphasized the importance of recognizing that facing challenges doesn’t automatically lead to a clinical diagnosis.
In August 2018, Serena Williams post a photo on Instagram of an introspective moment atop a cliff during a sunset. The caption that followed delved into her personal reflections on the “postpartum emotions” she had faced. Williams openly shared the challenges of coming to terms with personal issues and the internal struggle of feeling unworthy as a mother. Highlighting the significance of communication, she believed that engaging in open conversations with her mother, sisters, and friends played a pivotal role in realizing that her feelings at the time were completely normal and understandable.
Then, Williams, who was balancing her professional career with being a mother at the time, continued to reassure similar moms that it’s fine to feel like they are not doing enough or miss out on something. She also believed that both stay-at-home and working mothers have similar struggles when it comes to finding the right balance between their lives and raising their kids.
This wasn’t the first time she addressed the downs in her emotional journey as a mother though. In July of the same year, she took to Twitter to share her frustration and sadness about missing her daughter’s first steps because she was training for Wimbledon. This incident highlights the sacrifices that athletes, particularly mothers, may face as they balance their careers with precious family moments.
In July of the same year, she turned to Twitter to express her sadness at missing her daughter’s first steps due to Wimbledon training. This episode sheds light on the sacrifices athletes, especially female athletes, may encounter as they try to balance their careers and spend time with their loved ones.
She moved on from playing tennis to prioritize motherhood
In a 2020 interview, Serena Williams shared how she rushed home from the court, excited to reunite with her daughter Olympia. The unparalleled joy for her when she heard the heartwarming squeal Olympia made as they met was irreplaceable. Fast forward two years, Serena announced her retirement from tennis to focus on her family.
A year later, in February, the former professional athlete once again confirmed her decision, believing it was the right decision to step away from the court to focus on her family affairs. While returning to tennis rather age was difficult, Serena had faith that she still had the skill to compete at the highest level once again.
The 42-year-old also doesn’t shy away from showing the unfiltered side of her daily life as a mother on social media platforms.
The tennis legend is very active on social media and never misses an opportunity to give a candid glimpse into her real-life parenting experiences. In November 2023, she posted a lighthearted clip on TikTok that perfectly captured the daily routine of a mother.
Serena never misses an opportunity to share with us footage of her being a parent, for example, this wholesome clip on TikTok in November 2023.
The clip kicks off with Serena Williams adorned in a glamorous black sequin gown from her appearance at the 2023 CFDA Awards. However, it quickly transitioned to a relatable mom scene, where the ex-tennis player pumped breast milk with a deep sigh. In the captions, Williams humorously acknowledged that despite the glamour, her life isn’t always as polished as it may appear.
Of course, the video was flooded with supportive comments from fans. Many felt it was incredibly accurate and relatable, and that motherhood isn’t for the “weak”. Others heaped praise at Serena for sharing such a down-to-earth moment, proving that the tennis legend is also very humble and has a great sense of humor.
Despite the struggles, she loves being a mom
Serena Williams consistently provides glimpses into the realm of motherhood on Instagram, capturing both its joys and challenges. In a 2019 post, she took a moment to reflect on the initial two years of her journey as a mom, deeming it her “greatest accomplishment.”
In a 2022 interview with Vogue, she highlighted her hands-on approach to motherhood, expressing how she enjoys being intensely involved in her daughter Olympia’s life. Her dedication is such that in 5 years, Olympia has only spent one 24-hour period away from her. Despite being a highly accomplished athlete, Williams expressed that nothing feels like a sacrifice when it comes to her daughter.
Speaking with Vogue in 2022, Serena revealed her unique motherhood approach, which included the intense involvement in her daughter Olympia’s life. The two were inseparable to the point that Olympia only spent one 24-hour period away from her mother in the span of five years. Despite being a successful athlete, Serena will sacrifice everything she has for her beloved daughter.
Besides Serena, renowned singer Nick Jonas also understands full well how important family is. The 30-year-old credits his own parents with saving his life when he was a mere 13 years old. Reflecting on this emotional chapter, he expresses a heartfelt commitment to helping others who face similar challenges.