Kourtney Kardashian is opening up about the urgent fetal surgery she had to undergo in September. Fetal surgery, as Mayo Clinic notes, is a procedure performed on a fetus in the uterus to help improve the long-term outcome of children with specific birth defects that could potentially be threatening. The defects, which usually worsen as the fetus develops, are treated through the surgery by a team of experts who focus on treating and improving the conditions before the birth of the child.
In a new interview with Vogue, the 44-year-old shared that it was an ultrasound that caught the problem with her baby, which then led to the surgery. In September, after the procedure, she shared that she and the baby are doing well.
"That experience opened my eyes to a whole new world of pregnancy that I didn't know about in the past," she told Vogue. "It was terrifying."
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The condition that led to the surgery hasn't been revealed by Kourtney or her husband, Travis Barker. But the television personality said that the complication also led her to learn more about what other women go through when it comes to not having access to medical care that could potentially save their own lives or their babies' lives.
"After, I learned that insurance typically only covers two ultrasounds when you're pregnant, I had no idea," she said. "I've always been lucky enough to do more than what insurance covers, and it's one of those ultrasounds that saved my baby's life."
The couple announced their pregnancy in June. This will be their first child together. Kourtney has three children from a previous relationship with Scott Disick. Travis Barker has two kids and a stepdaughter from his previous marriage to Shanna Moakler.
The couple initially tried IVF before they conceived naturally. "I felt really pressured and pushed into doing IVF," Kourtney told Vogue. "It went against my intuition, and I didn't feel fully prepared for the mental or physical toll is takes. We just got pregnant naturally. It was an indescribable feeling. Shock, then super-happy, fear sets in, worry, but I remembered then to have gratitude."
Kourtney shared a message of thanks with her support system via Instagram after undergoing the fetal surgery. "I will be forever grateful to my incredible doctors for saving our baby’s life. 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."
"As someone who has had three really easy pregnancies in the past, 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. Praise be to God. Walking out of the hospital with my baby boy in my tummy and safe was the truest blessing. "
