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Kourtney Kardashian and Travis Barker have opened up about the frightening medical emergency they faced during the pregnancy of their son, Rocky, revealing that their baby required surgery before birth after doctors discovered fluid accumulating in his lungs.
The couple discussed the experience in Barker's Hulu documentary, Travis Barker: Louder Than Fear, offering a closer look at the crisis that unfolded during Kardashian's pregnancy. At the time, Barker was on tour in Europe when Kardashian contacted him with alarming news from her doctor.
"She says, 'Trav, I went to my doctor and the baby's lungs are filling with fluid,'" Barker recalled.
Doctors determined that an emergency fetal procedure was necessary. According to Barker, surgeons drained the fluid from the baby's lungs by inserting a needle through Kardashian's stomach. The procedure left both parents deeply frightened, particularly after they had already experienced the devastating loss of a pregnancy.
Kardashian recalled the anxiety surrounding the operation, saying it was terrifying to undergo the surgery. Barker immediately canceled four shows so he could return and remain beside her in hospital.
His concern was heightened by the couple's previous experience with miscarriage. Kardashian had become pregnant roughly six months into their relationship, but during a first trimester appointment, they learned that the baby girl they had planned to name Tulip no longer had a heartbeat.
"When we lost the baby, we were devastated," Kardashian said. "We just laid in bed and cried for days. All we wanted was to have a baby together."
The couple subsequently pursued in vitro fertilization, with Kardashian undergoing five failed IVF cycles and three retrievals over eight months. She described the process as physically and emotionally exhausting, saying it eventually felt as though her body was shutting down.
Despite the difficulties, the couple eventually conceived naturally and welcomed Rocky on November 1, 2023.
Barker described their son as a miracle and praised him as the healthiest and happiest child he had ever met. For Kardashian, Rocky's arrival also represented a new chapter for Barker, who has children from previous relationships.
"Having Rocky gives him another chance to do what he loves most and does best: being a father," Kardashian said.
The couple's experience highlights the uncertainty that can accompany pregnancy, particularly after previous loss. What began as another attempt to expand their family ultimately became a journey marked by grief, medical complications and, finally, the birth of their son.
For Kardashian and Barker, Rocky's arrival remains a powerful reminder of the difficult road they travelled before becoming parents together.
