Serena: 'I almost died after giving birth to my daughter'

Serena Williams opened up about the complications surrounding the birth of daughter Alexis Olympia Ohanian Jr. in an op-ed for CNN on Tuesday.

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

Williams revealed in Vogue's February issue that she was bedridden for six weeks after delivering her daughter via emergency C-section on Sept. 1. She developed blood clots in her lungs and coughing spells caused her C-section wound to reopen. When she underwent surgery again, doctors discovered a large hematoma had flooded her abdomen.

In her CNN piece, Williams noted that while she was fortunate to have access to the medical professionals and resources needed to survive such medical scares, many women around the world don't.

According to UNICEF, each year, 2.6 million newborns die, tragically before their lives even really get started. Over 80 percent die from preventable causes. We know simple solutions exist, like access to midwives and functional health facilities, along with breastfeeding, skin-to-skin contact, clean water, basic drugs and good nutrition. Yet we are not doing our part. We are not rising to the challenge to help the women of the world.
... But what if we lived in a world where there were enough birth attendants? Where there was no shortage of access to health facilities nearby? Where lifesaving drugs and clean water were easily available to all? Where midwives could help and advise mothers after birth? What if we lived in a world where every mother and newborn could receive affordable health care and thrive in life?
That world is possible. And we must dare to dream it for every black woman, for every woman in Malawi, and for every mother out there.