Kim Kardashian West underwent three operations on her uterus before falling pregnant.

The 34-year-old reality star - who suffered placenta accreta, where blood vessels from the placenta grow into the uterine wall and remain attached while pregnant with daughter North, now 23 months - and husband Kanye West are expecting their second child after undergoing IVF (in vitro fertilisation) treatment but she also required surgery before the procedure could be successful.

A source told People magazine: ''Kim also had three surgeries to repair her uterus.

''The inner lining had been so damaged that she was told conceiving on her own wasn't possible.''

As a result of the difficulties she had getting pregnant and complications she suffered while expecting North, Kim and Kanye, 37, are reportedly expecting a difficult delivery of their second child.

However, the source added: ''They are prepared. It's been a long road, and they are just so thankful to the doctors because they said she would never conceive again.''

And until the baby arrives, the 'Keeping Up With the Kardashians' star - who suffered pre-eclampsia, a condition where her blood pressure soared dangerously high, while pregnant with North - is planning to take care of herself as best she can.

The source said: ''She's trying to rest and doing what she can to not get pre-eclampsia again, but there's a chance she might.''