Reality star Kourtney Kardashian opened up on social media about undergoing an emergency surgery, which saved the life of her preborn baby.
Earlier this summer, Kardashian announced that she was pregnant with her fourth baby, her first conceived with husband Travis Barker. Barker, who is the drummer for the rock band Blink-182, likewise has two children from a previous marriage. Kardashian shared the news of her pregnancy in a viral Instagram post, with her holding a sign which read, “Travis, I’m pregnant!” at a Blink-182 concert, which was a callback to the band’s “All The Small Things” music video.
Earlier this month, paparazzi photos caught Barker and Kardashian leaving a hospital, which they said was due to an “urgent family matter,” and Blink-182 was forced to postpone concerts after Barker left to be by his wife’s side.
“Travis has had to return home to the States,” the band wrote in a tweet. “More information in regards to his return to Europe and rescheduled dates will be provided as soon as available.” On his Instagram stories, Barker posted photos which included the hospital chapel, a sign which read “Prayer Room,” and a “Together We Pray” sign. Now, on Instagram, Kardashian has explained what happened.
View this post on Instagram
“I will be forever grateful to my incredible doctors for saving our baby’s life,” she wrote. “I am eternally grateful to my husband who rushed to my side from tour to be with me in the hospital and take care of me afterwards, my rock. And to my mom, thank you for holding my hand through this.”
Kardashian further added that the experience was a shock, after three pregnancies that had no complications. “I wasn’t prepared for the fear of rushing into urgent fetal surgery,” she continued. “I don’t think anyone who hasn’t been through a similar situation can begin to understand that feeling of fear. I have a whole new understanding and respect for the mamas who have had to fight for their babies while pregnant.”
While Kardashian didn’t explain what prompted the emergency fetal surgery, she did share that both she and the baby are doing well. “Praise be to God. Walking out of the hospital with my baby boy in my tummy and safe was the truest blessing,” she concluded.
The sentiments were shared by Barker in an emotional tweet. “God is great,” he said. “I flew home for a life-threatening emergency surgery for our baby that I’m so grateful went well. I want to say thank you for all the support.”
Kardashian and Barker’s baby was reportedly conceived naturally, after the couple endured a hellish IVF experience.
“I felt like we kind of got pushed into doing IVF,” she previously said on the Not Skinny But Not Fat podcast. “If you look online, it says if you’re over 40 go right away to an IVF doctor. So I felt a little bit pushed.”
In a response to a follower on social media asking about what women should know, she responded, “The after affects of IVF. I only acknowledge this comment because I do think it’s important to know how IVF affects women’s bodies and it’s not spoken about much.” Two of Kardashian’s sisters used surrogates; Khloe described the experience as feeling “transactional” and said it made it difficult to bond with her child.