Kourtney Kardashian reveals why she had to have emergency foetal surgery during pregnancy

Following the birth of her fourth child, much-loved reality star Kourtney Kardashian has opened up on the harrowing health battle she endured before going into labour.

Speaking on the recently-released episode of The Kardashians, the media personality, 45 - who welcomed her son Rocky Thirteen with blink-182 hubby Travis Barker back in November - was forced to undergo emergency surgery two months prior due to a rare condition.

Despite her initial fear, the mum-of-four - who shares her three eldest children, Mason, Penelope and Reign with ex-husband Scott Disick - was informed by doctors that she could lose her unborn child if she refused to go under the knife.

"We had a terrifying scare," she told viewers. "It’s super rare — the condition that he had — but it’s also super rare and lucky that we caught it.

"Thank you, God, for a successful surgery. I’m honestly just so grateful, I have no words."

Her future son's lungs had filled with fluid due to an extremely rare foetal condition, meaning his life was at risk if mum Kourtney decided against the procedure.

Back in September, therefore, the couple - who tied the knot the summer prior in a plush Positano, Italy ceremony - made the decision that she'd have the emergency surgery.

Kourtney welcomed her son in November. (Instagram/@kourtneykardashian)

"The fluid in his lungs actually did start coming back," Kourtney recalled this week.

"Then I watched this documentary called Heal that was all about the power of positive thinking and how our thinking can really affect our health."

"I started talking to the baby every day, saying my prayers. After I had that mindset shift, the fluid was completely gone and we had not one single problem after."

It wasn't until after she'd gone until the knife and the surgery had been declared a success that Kourtney opened up to fans about her hidden health battle.

Taking to Instagram, she claimed to be 'eternally grateful' to her musician husband, 48 - who himself has two children from a previous relationship - for having travelled around the world to be by her side every step of the way, despite being on tour.

Kourtney previously thanked Travis for his support. (Instagram/@kourtneykardashain)

"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," she penned at the time. "And to my mom, thank you for holding my hand through this."

Prior to welcoming her healthy son on 1 November, she went on to gush: "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.

"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."