Most couples are asked when they’ll have kids. For Charli Worgan and her husband Cullen, the question was why. Both living with different forms of dwarfism, the Sydney-based couple often faced public scrutiny — especially when Charli became pregnant. After their first daughter was born, Charli started a social media account to share their family life. To her surprise, it grew to over 300,000 followers.
Now parents to three children, Charli and Cullen’s pregnancies have never been simple. Each child had a 25% chance of inheriting both forms of dwarfism — a fatal condition. That meant undergoing invasive genetic testing, including Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS), which carries a miscarriage risk. Charli explained the emotional toll of waiting for results:
“I was lining up for a massive needle through my abdomen while others were celebrating 12 weeks.”
Their daughters, Tully and Tilba, each inherited one type of dwarfism. When Charli became pregnant again, they waited anxiously to learn which of four outcomes their third child would face — including the possibility of a fatal diagnosis.
She acknowledged the criticism they’ve faced for choosing to have children:
“Bringing a child into this world with our odds is no simple decision.”
In February, they welcomed baby Rip — healthy and loved. Charli shared a message many parents can relate to:
“I’m tired but feeling grateful… There’s no ‘correct’ way to do motherhood.”
Through honesty and resilience, Charli shows that while her path is unique, the joys and struggles of parenthood are universal.