During her recent appearance on the SHE MD podcast, Khloé Kardashian opened up about her surrogacy journey and the rollercoaster of emotions she experienced welcoming her son Tatum Thompson.
Speaking to her doctor, Dr. Thaïs Aliabadi, and Mary Alice Haney, the Good American cofounder delved into her struggles with bonding with her son Tatum, and the reason why she made Tristan Thompson take three paternity tests.
The reality star shared that she underwent the embryo transfer just days before Thanksgiving, intending to surprise her family with the news. However, her joy was overshadowed when she learned that her ex-partner, Tristan Thompson, was expecting a child with another woman.
As a result, Kardashian kept her surrogacy journey private, grappling with detachment throughout the pregnancy. She admitted that she struggled to embrace the reality of becoming a mother again, especially since she wasn’t carrying the child herself.
“I couldn’t really face it. I very much think I was in denial that this is happening. So I didn’t get to really attach during the pregnancy part,” Kardashian said, before adding that she had “one of the world’s best surrogates.”
Opening up about her difficulty bonding with Tatum, Kardashian acknowledged feeling guilt and confusion. She contrasted her experience with Tatum to that of her daughter True, explaining that while the connection with True was almost instantaneous, bonding with Tatum took much longer.
Naming her son proved to be another challenge for Khloé. She shared that she hesitated to choose a name for Tatum for several months, opting instead to affectionately refer to him as “baby” or “Papa.” Kardashian admitted that the naming process was particularly tough because she didn’t feel the same connection to Tatum as she did with True during her pregnancy.
“I actually didn’t legally name Tatum, I think for maybe eight months,” she added.
Regarding the sensitive topic of paternity, Khloé Kardashian opened up about Thompson taking three DNA tests due to Tatum’s resemblance to her brother, Rob.
“And because [Tatum] was a surrogate baby, or IVF baby, I was like, ‘Rob, have you ever donated sperm somewhere?'” Khloé joked.
Recalling her unwavering stance on the issue, Kardashian emphasized the need for peace of mind.
“I remember, [Dr. A] was like, ‘You’ve already done a DNA test,’ but [I was like], ‘I need to do another one. I need to figure it out.'”
Reflecting on her journey, Kardashian emphasized her gratitude for her surrogate and the support she received from Dr. Aliabadi. Despite the hurdles, she expressed love and devotion to her son, highlighting the unique bond they now share.
Tatum Thompson entered the world via surrogacy in July 2023, joining Kardashian and Thompson’s daughter, True Thompson, 6.
