Serena Williams faced life-threatening complications, including a pulmonary embolism, after her daughter’s emergency C-section birth. She emphasized the importance of women trusting their bodies and advocating for their health, recalling her fight to be heard by doctors. Pulmonary embolism, a leading cause of maternal deaths, requires prompt diagnosis due to overlapping symptoms with pregnancy.
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Source: X/ Serena Williams

Serena Williams had fatal complications after giving birth to her daughter Olympia via emergency C-section. Speaking to People as part of her work with health brand Ritual, the 23-time Grand Slam champion reflected on that near-death experience and the importance of listening to your body.“I want other women to know: you’re not alone. Your body is always talking to you. Listen to it. Trust it,” Williams said, as quoted by People.After the birth, Williams developed a pulmonary embolism, a serious condition in which a blood clot blocks a lung artery. She had to demand care repeatedly before doctors took her concerns seriously. “After giving birth, I knew something was wrong, but I had to fight to be believed. Not everyone gets that chance,” she told Vogue in 2018.Williams has also dealt with a branchial cyst, another health issue she says could’ve gone unnoticed had she not learned to advocate for herself.

“I’ve spent my whole life learning about my body—on the court, through pregnancy, through recovery,” she said. “I’ve had to fight to be heard, even when I knew something was wrong.”

Pulmonary embolism is a leading cause of maternal deaths

According to Cleveland Clinic, pulmonary embolism (PE) is a life-threatening condition that can arise during or after pregnancy, especially following a C-section. In the US, PE is responsible for approximately 5.7% of maternal deaths, making it one of the most dangerous postpartum complications.

A PE occurs when a blood clot travels to the lungs, blocking an artery. During pregnancy, the risk of deep vein thrombosis (DVT) increases, especially in the lower extremities, and these clots can migrate to the lungs if not caught early.Symptoms can include: sudden shortness of breath, sharp chest pain, coughing (possibly with blood), and or swelling or pain in one leg. Because many of these overlap with normal pregnancy symptoms, diagnosis can be tricky. Doctors often rely on patient history, blood tests, and imaging like CT scans or ultrasounds to confirm PE.

Risk factors

Some of the key risk factors for PE during or after pregnancy include:Obesity (BMI over 30, especially 40+)History of blood clots or DVTTwin pregnanciesC-sectionsCertain medical conditions like irritable bowel syndromeGenetic clotting disorders