Hayden Panettiere was “knocking on death’s doorstep” while giving birth to her daughter.
Hayden Panettiere has recalled almost dying during childbirth
The 36-year-old star has recalled almost dying from bleeding out when she was giving birth to her and ex-fiancé Wladimir Klitschko‘s daughter Kaya, now 11, back in 2014, and she had “the most motherly moment”.
She told E! News: “I was sitting there and getting the C-section, and I knew that I was knocking on death’s doorstep.
“I just had the most motherly moment though, where I said, ‘God, please let me hear my daughter cry. I just want to know that she is OK and if it’s my time to go, I’m OK with that.'”
The Nashville actress, who is also known for her roles in the Scream franchise and Heroes, survived after seven blood transfusions and an infection.
After the near-death experience, Hayden “wasn’t afraid at all”, and, the terrifying moment made her realise she was ready for motherhood.
She explained that she felt ready to sacrifice herself “in a second” to make sure her baby was safe.
During her daughter’s early childhood, Hayden – who has also detailed her struggles in new memoir This Is Me: A Reckoning – struggled with postpartum depression and, when Kaya was four years old, Hayden gave up custody to allow her to live in Europe with Wladimir.
She added: “I don’t ever want her to feel like the postpartum depression aspect was her fault in any way.
“I want her to take away that it’s OK to be imperfect and flawed, and you’ll actually realize that you’re not alone in any of your struggles and you don’t have to stay quiet and be sick like I was.”
Last week, Hayden blasted the idea she “abandoned” Kaya by giving up custody due to her own personal struggles.
Speaking to Jay Shetty on the On Purpose podcast, she said: “The idea that anybody would think that I would just give away my child and be OK with it is heartbreaking.
“It couldn’t be further from the truth.
“It became this horrible cycle for years of battling depression and anxiety and alcoholism and substance abuse and just me trying to find my way back.”
Despite the time apart, Hayden and Kaya have developed an “intense” and “incredible” bond.
She explained: “I know in my heart that she feels supported. I have an incredible relationship with her. I go to travel as much as I can to see her. I do spend a lot of time on FaceTime with her.”
Meanwhile, she praised her daughter as an “incredible little girl” who “speaks five languages and rides horses”.
She said: “She’s got two parents that love her and I know in my heart that she feels supported…
“She is happy and healthy mentally, emotionally, physically, spiritually. She in no way feels abandoned — and that’s something that I’ve made sure to be stay on top of and be very aware of.”
