Serena Williams
Tennis star donated breast milk
Serena Williams has two daughters with her husband. The youngest was born in August.
© Joe Seer/Shutterstock.com
During a trip to New York, Serena Williams donated her excess breast milk. That feels “fantastic”.
Shortly before Christmas, the tennis star gets in touch Serena Williams (42) speaks out with a special social action. She didn’t donate money, but rather her breast milk. She announced this on Wednesday (December 20th).
“I’m really happy to just be able to help in some way.”
The multiple Grand Slam winner, who retired from tennis in 2022, shared a short video on her Instagram account in which she opens a freezer containing several cartons of breast milk. Her voice can also be heard. She is “really excited” to donate the breast milk “to people who really need it.” Before closing the freezer door, she added: “It will be anonymous, but I’m really happy to just be able to help in some way.”
In the comment to the video, the mother of two explained that she had leftover breast milk on a recent trip to New York. “After going through a physical, I was able to donate it instead of taking the milk home.” She continued, “I know so many amazing women who adopt or are unable to produce milk. It felt amazing.” Then she said about her breast milk: “By the way, someone out there is getting some super soldier milk.”
Williams and her husband Alexis Ohanian (40) have two daughters. Alexis Olympia was born on September 1, 2017, followed by Adira in August 2023. The former professional athlete is breastfeeding her little one. She was recently noticed by an unusual tip when it came to breast milk: she used it to combat sunburn and other skin problems.
There are also human milk banks in Germany
Breast milk banks are common in the United States. But also supply in Germany around 50 human milk banks premature babies in need of clinics if the mother’s milk is not enough. According to the initiative, there are more than 750 such human milk banks worldwide. The aim is to provide all babies with breast milk, which is considered particularly healthy. Providing children with milk from strange women may seem strange these days. In the Middle Ages, for example, so-called wet nurses who also looked after other babies were widespread. At that time, this was an important way for children to survive. After all, there was no industrially produced baby food yet.