Travis Barker and Kourtney Kardashian Share Their Harrowing Experience with Fetal Surgery
Travis Barker and Kourtney Kardashian have disclosed new insights about the “frightening” fetal surgery that took place prior to the arrival of their son Rocky.
“I was on tour, actually in Europe,” Barker, 50, reflected in his Hulu documentary Travis Barker: Louder Than Fear, which is available for streaming now. “[Kourtney] said, ‘Trav, I visited my doctor and the baby’s lungs are accumulating fluid.’”
Barker learned that the procedure necessitated surgery where doctors “extracted the fluid from his lungs by inserting a needle through her abdomen.”
“It was terrifying going in for the surgery,” Kardashian, 47, noted in the documentary. “He canceled four shows to come and stay with me in the hospital and ensured everything was alright.”
Barker expressed his worries for both his wife and their son, saying, “Once you’ve gone through a miscarriage, you’re constantly waiting for something to go wrong.”
After openly discussing their path to parenthood in the past, Kardashian revealed in June 2023 that she was expecting a child with Barker by showcasing a handwritten sign at a Blink-182 concert that stated, “Travis, I’m pregnant.”
Three months later, Kardashian disclosed that she was rushed to the hospital for emergency surgery in preparation for their fourth child’s birth. (The reality star also has children Mason, 16, Penelope, 13, and Reign, 11, with ex Scott Disick.)
“I will forever be thankful to my amazing doctors for saving our baby’s life. I am eternally grateful to my husband, who hurried back from tour to be by my side in the hospital and care for me afterward, my rock,” she shared on Instagram at that time. “And to my mom, thank you for holding my hand through all of this. As someone who has had three previous uncomplicated pregnancies, I wasn’t prepared for the anxiety of urgent fetal surgery.”
The Poosh founder added: “I don’t think anyone who hasn’t experienced a similar situation can truly grasp that feeling of fear. I have a newfound understanding and respect for mothers who have had to advocate for their babies while pregnant. Praise be to God. Walking out of the hospital with my baby boy safely inside was the most profound blessing.”
Kardashian later elaborated on the health scare in detail during an interview with Vogue in October 2023, stating, “That experience opened my eyes to an entirely new aspect of pregnancy that I was previously unaware of. Afterward, I discovered that insurance usually covers only two ultrasounds during pregnancy, which was news to me. I’ve always been fortunate to have more than what insurance provides, and it was one of those ultrasounds that saved my baby’s life.”
True love! Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker have become well-known for their public displays of affection since they began dating, but they also share a love for heartfelt — and at times handwritten — messages. For instance, in February, the Keeping Up With the Kardashians star posted on Instagram a image of a poem seemingly penned by her musician boyfriend. “Roses […]
During that time, Kardashian emphasized her commitment to staying stress-free. “I’ve finally been able to release the fear and anxiety that everyone else instilled in us regarding this pregnancy. I’m ready to give birth and have the experience we are meant to have,” she remarked.
A month later, Kardashian and Barker celebrated the arrival of their son, Rocky. When asked about the pregnancy during his latest documentary, the couple shared that they had previously experienced a miscarriage.
“Losing the baby was heartbreaking for us,” Kardashian recounted in the documentary, explaining how she discovered she was pregnant six months into her relationship with Barker in 2022. “We cried for days. All we wanted was to have a baby together.”
