Khloé Kardashian Admits Surrogacy Made Her Feel ‘Less Connected’ To Her Second Child
The Kardashians are making headlines yet again in the wake of the newest season of their show airing, but this time it's because of an open discussion about pregnancy, motherhood, and family.
Last year, Khloé Kardashian had a son via surrogacy with her now ex-fiance. She's now opened up about what that experience was like, how it's affected her, and all the things she's struggled with along the way, leading fans to praise her for her honesty.
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Rough Beginnings
In the summer of 2022, the Kardashians welcomed a new baby into the family.
Khloé Kardashian and her ex-partner, Tristan Thompson, had a second child together via surrogate. The boy's name is Tatum, and he was unfortunately born during a rather rough patch between his parents.
Tristan was in the midst of another cheating scandal—and not his first one either since he began dating the social media star in 2016. This one was different, though, as the two had gotten engaged in the fall of 2021.
Ultimate Betrayal
This was also around when they decided to have a second child via surrogate. Just days after the process was complete and the pregnancy was set to begin, it was revealed that Tristan had not only been cheating again, but he secretly got another woman pregnant. He originally denied that the baby was his, but a DNA test revealed the truth: he was that child's father.
Khloé was, understandably, in shambles. In an episode of The Kardashians, she said, "I'm not sure that there is one thing that hurts more than the other. Everything is an act of betrayal, everything is a lie, everything is manipulation. It’s deceit.”
She broke off their engagement and relationship once this all came to light.
Initial Shock
This appears to have left her attitude toward their surrogate pregnancy a little soured, too. The season 2 finale of The Kardashians ended with Khloé and Kim making their way to the hospital as Khloé's surrogate had gone into labor early.
She seemed to be shocked throughout this entire segment of the show. She was quiet the entire time, even once the baby was back at home with her.
Well, now that season 3 has premiered, we've learned a little more about Khloé's thoughts surrounding her son.
Sisterly Connections
The premiere episode had Khloé speaking about not only her surrogacy but also her sister Kim's. Kim Kardashian and Scott Disick have had two babies via surrogate, as Kim's first two natural pregnancies left her with serious health complications.
It's here where Khloé revealed that she did not enjoy having a child via surrogate. "A surrogate process, Kim knows, it's really hard for me," Khloé said to the cameras. Kim agreed, saying that Khloé “had a really hard time accepting the whole process.”
Her Own Experience
"It's a mind f**k," Khloé continued. “It’s really the worst thing.”
Kim then went on to describe what she felt the difference was between carrying a baby and having a surrogate do it. "I do think that there's a difference when the baby is in your belly. The baby actually feels your real heart — think about it.”
"It touches your [organs], like, there's no one else on this planet that will feel you from the inside like that — like, your heart," she said.
A Confession
Later on in the episode, Scott asks Khloé if she felt "less connected" to her son than she did her daughter, True, whom she carried herself.
"So, do you feel less connected?" he asked.
Khloé nodded her head and replied with an "Mmhmm."
Scott tried to reassure her, explaining that it might "take a minute" before she feels that mother-son bond, but Khloé bites back. "Kim said hers was easy. This is not easy."
Turning Away
She would later reveal in another confessional that she didn't really involve herself in the pregnancy at all.
"I definitely buried my head in the sand during that pregnancy," she said. "I didn't digest what was happening. So I think when I went to the hospital, I really think that was the first time that it really registered.”
But she assures that she knows it's not her son's fault. "It has nothing to do with the baby," she continued, "It's just, you’re like, 'OK, we’re having a baby!’ And this is my son, and I’m taking him home with me."
Stunned Silent
She said that she was in a "state of shock" while her son was being born, and even revealed that she felt "really guilty" when she had to take him away from the surrogate.
"I definitely was in a state of shock — I think from my entire experience in general," she explained. "I felt really guilty that this woman just had my baby, and I take the baby, and then I go to another room and you're sorta separated."
"It’s such a transactional experience."
A Million Varriables
She also shows a little frustration, saying she wished someone had been "honest" about how "different" surrogacy is from being pregnant yourself.
"It doesn't mean it’s bad or good — it’s still great, it’s just very different."
Would she still be feeling this way had Tristan not cheated, had they been together throughout the whole thing, and there wasn't an engagement called off right at the start? It's impossible to know, but it's likely a safe bet to say that it didn't help.
Some Appreciation
After the show's airing, fans flocked online to praise Khloé for her honesty.
"I love the honest and realness of [what she said]," wrote one fan.
"It's completely normal that Khloe Kardashian is feeling less bonded to her child born by surrogacy than the child she birthed," said another. "That is hormones. It just [means] she will have to work harder at developing that bond and that’s fine. Maybe just stop the mom-shaming.”
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