Kim and Kanye have hired a surrogate to carry their third child

US reports have claimed that Kim Kardashian and Kanye West have hired a surrogate to carry their third child.

Kim suffered a number of complications during her two previous pregnancies and was told by doctors that it was too risky for her to carry another child.

Citing unidentified sources, People Magazine and E! News reported that the couple has chosen their surrogate, while TMZ claimed the couple had agreed to pay the woman more that $113,000 to carry their child.

“Kim and Kanye will use a surrogate to carry their third baby. They are both very excited to give their kids a sibling,” a source told People.

The rumours have been fuelled by a recent episode of Keeping Up With The Kardashians in which Kim spoke about the option of surrogacy:

"I think I always knew that surrogacy was an option, but I didn't think it was that realistic of an option, and now I feel like that's my reality." 

The news comes after a difficult year for the couple. Last October Kim was the victim of a robbery in Paris and Kanye was forced to cancel his December tour after he was hospitalised for apparent mental health issues.

Since then, the couple, who are already parents to North (age 4) and Saint (age 1), have taken a much more modest approach to social media, with just the occasional post about family life.

The reports did not reveal whether the supposed surrogate was already pregnant.