Hayden Panettiere almost bled to death giving birth: ‘I was knocking on death’s doorstep’

Hayden Panettiere’s experience as a mother hasn’t been ideal, and the trouble started before her daughter was even born.

NEW YORK, NEW YORK – MARCH 06: Hayden Panettiere attends the Global Premiere of Paramount Pictures and Spyglass Media Group’s “Scream VI” at AMC Lincoln Square on March 6, 2023 in New York, New York. (Photo by Jason Mendez/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures)

The “Nashville” actress recalled the terrifying C-section she underwent to deliver her daughter, Kaya, where she almost bled to death. “I was sitting there and getting the C-section, and I knew that I was knocking on death’s doorstep,” she told E! News. “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.'”

Luckily, Panettiere survived, but not before seven blood transfusions and an infection. The near-death experience, though, helped her realize she was more than ready to be a mother, as she then knew she was willing to sacrifice herself “in a second” for her daughter. “I wasn’t afraid at all,” she said.

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 10: Hayden Panettiere attends The Hollywood Reporter Emmy Party on September 10, 2022 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)

Unfortunately, the “Ice Princess” star struggled with parenthood and ultimately had to sign over custody of her child to her ex-fiancé, Wladimir Klitschko. “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,” she said about that difficult time. “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.”

HOLLYWOOD, CALIFORNIA – SEPTEMBER 13: Hayden Panettiere attends Los Angeles Premiere Of Netflix’s New Film “Blonde” at TCL Chinese Theatre on September 13, 2022 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Jon Kopaloff/Getty Images)

Today, Panettiere says she and Kaya have an “intense” and “incredible” bond. “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,” she explained. “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.”

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