Most married couples get asked when they’ll have kids — but for Charli Worgan and her husband Cullen, the question was often why.
Both living with different forms of dwarfism, the Sydney couple faced public scrutiny, especially when Charli became pregnant with their first child. After their daughter was born, Charli launched a social media account to share their family life and raise awareness — quickly gaining over 300,000 followers.
Now parents to three children, Charli and Cullen have faced unique challenges with each pregnancy. Their genetic conditions mean their children could inherit one type of dwarfism (like either parent), be of average height, or inherit both conditions — a fatal combination.
During her third pregnancy, Charli shared the emotional toll of undergoing Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS), a risky test done to determine the baby’s genetic makeup. “While most are celebrating at 12 weeks,” she wrote, “I was lining up for a needle through my abdomen.”
Their daughters, Tully and Tilba, each have one type of dwarfism. With baby number three, they once again waited to see which of four possible outcomes they’d face — one of which could mean saying goodbye before birth.
Charli has addressed criticism online about their decision to have children despite the risks, saying it’s not taken lightly: “Bringing a child into the world with our odds is no simple decision.”
In February, they welcomed their son Rip. “I’m tired but grateful,” Charli posted. “There’s no ‘correct’ way to do motherhood — but no wrong way either.”
Through sharing their story, Charli reminds us that parenting — no matter the challenges — is filled with both struggle and joy, just like any other family.