The news of Kourtney Kardashian’s needing foetal surgery on her unborn baby boy has sent us all into a spin. Here’s the lowdown.
By Mama Disrupt®
So, when Travis Barker hit pause on his tour to rush to Kourtney Kardashian’s side, the rumour mill went bananas. Everyone was like, “What’s going on with Kourt’s pregnancy?” But don’t worry, our fav couple cleared the air.
Now chillin’ at home and getting her recovery vibes on, Kourtney has spilled her heart out on Instagram.
“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. 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.”
Of course, her feed was bombarded with love. Celebs, fans, everyone was sending good vibes.
Oh, and Travis? He dropped a simple but powerful, “God is great.”
“MEDICINE OFTEN TREADS A FINE LINE BETWEEN INNOVATION AND CAUTION, AND FOETAL SURGERY IS NO EXCEPTION.”
What is foetal surgery?
It might sound like something straight out of a sci-fi movie, but trust us, it’s very real and incredibly fascinating. Essentially, foetal surgery is like playing doctor, but with the littlest of patients – unborn babies.
Back in the day, we didn’t have the tools or knowledge to step in and correct problems while a baby was still in the womb. But advances in the late 20th century opened up a whole new world of possibilities. The idea behind it is simple yet profound: some issues, if tackled before birth, can lead to much better outcomes for the baby.
For instance, imagine a baby diagnosed with spina bifida while still in the womb. Now, rather than waiting for birth and then treating, doctors can roll up their sleeves and get to work right away, potentially making a massive difference in that little one’s life!
There are two main “styles” of doing this:
- Open foetal surgery: Think of this as the traditional method. The surgeon makes an incision in the mum’s belly, opens up the uterus, and works directly on the baby. It’s remarkable but does come with its risks.
- Minimally invasive foetal surgery: This is the cooler, modern cousin. Tiny instruments and a camera get inserted through small incisions, making it way less invasive. It’s a bit like playing a high-stakes, high-reward video game!
Of course, with such groundbreaking procedures come some serious debates. There’s a lot to think about – the safety of both mum and baby, the long-term effects, and the ethical concerns. Medicine often treads a fine line between innovation and caution, and foetal surgery is no exception.
So, next time you’re chatting with friends or bingeing a medical drama, toss in some fun facts about foetal surgery. It’s a testament to how far we’ve come in the world of medicine and the incredible things we can do for our tiniest patients.
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