“Being Serena”: Serena Williams Reflects on Childbirth That Nearly Caused Her to Miss Out on Motherhood by Jessica Acree

She's a fierce professional tennis player consistently ranking at the top of her game by securing win after win on the court. Confident, successful and powerful. She's also a new mom overflowing with love as she navigates the terrifyingly magical challenge of parenting. Tired, nervous and full of worry.

Serena Williams may have serious skill we can't match with a racket in our hand, but replace that with a child snuggled in our arms and she's just like us. She's dedicated and determined, fearful and unsure.

Mama bear and baby cub #beingSerena @hbo pic.twitter.com/lX88EZYRNp

— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) May 2, 2018

Williams is giving us a behind-the-scenes look at her latest chapters of marriage and motherhood in the new, five-part HBO documentary, "Being Serena," that premiered May 2. In the series, she admits she defined her success by championships until she unexpectedly fell in love, marrying internet entrepreneur Alexis Ohanian.

On September 1, the couple welcomed daughter Alexis Olympia, but it was far from easy. The 36-year-old says the episode detailing her serious child birth complications brings her to tears all over again. "One minute, everything's going according to plan, and then I'm being wheeled off for surgery. I was terrified. It was a whole new kind of fear," she explains.

The documentary reveals more trouble in the days that followed that nearly cost her her life. After a C-section, Williams suffered an embolism that led to more surgeries as doctors worked to alleviate dangerous blood clot concerns. The new mom was bedridden for six weeks. 

The whole experience has given her perspective and deep gratitude, "I can't believe how much went wrong on my way to meeting (Olympia). I almost died ... but now, she's the reason why this all means even more than it did before." 

These days, she's facing her fear of finding balance between family life and her tennis game by tackling it all with an impressive commitment to overcome the obstacles and she's acing it! 

Watch more of her story in the HBO series as she tells it – real, raw and full of hope, and read more about  Serena Williams via CNN.

Every time I put her to sleep I miss her. pic.twitter.com/wmKU3PtP1c

— Serena Williams (@serenawilliams) March 20, 2018

Photo: Serena Williams Twitter