Serena Williams is overwhelmed by the amount of support she has received after sharing her labor and delivery story with fans. The tennis star took to Facebook on Monday to thank her followers for their outpouring of love after her and baby Alexis Olympia’s cover of Vogue.
“I didn’t expect that sharing our family’s story of Olympia’s birth and all of the complications after giving birth would start such an outpouring of discussion from women — especially black women — who have faced similar complications and women whose problems go unaddressed,” Serena shared on Facebook. The celebrity mom went on to talk about the statistics that show African-American women at greater risk of dying due to complications related to the birthing experience.
“According to the CDC, (Center for Disease Control), black women are over 3 times more likely than White women to die from pregnancy- or childbirth-related causes,” the tennis star wrote. “We have a lot of work to do as a nation and I hope my story can inspire a conversation that gets us to close this gap,” Williams added.
Serena concluded her Facebook post by saying, “EVERY mother, regardless of race, or background deserves to have a healthy pregnancy and childbirth. I personally want all women of all colors to have the best experience they can have. My personal experience was not great but it was MY experience and I’m happy it happened to me. It made me stronger and it made me appreciate women — both women with and without kids — even more. We are powerful!!!”
Serena Williams welcomed her and husband Alexis Ohanian’s first child on September 1, 2017. Check out the little one’s latest developmental milestone here!
