For many couples, the topic of starting a family is a familiar one—usually asked with good intentions. Friends, family, and even strangers tend to ask, “When are you going to have kids?” But for Charli Worgan and her husband Cullen, the questions were much more direct—and much more confronting.
Instead of when, they were often asked why. Charli and Cullen, a couple from Sydney, each live with a different form of dwarfism. While their lives are filled with love, joy, and activity, their relationship and parenting decisions have often been the subject of intense public scrutiny.
That scrutiny only grew when Charli became pregnant with their first child.
What should have been an exciting and joyful time became, in many ways, a period of judgment, misunderstanding, and deeply personal challenges. Despite this, Charli and Cullen chose to face it with openness, resilience, and honesty—turning their family’s story into one that has inspired hundreds of thousands of people worldwide.
Turning Criticism Into Education
After the birth of their first daughter, Charli made a decision that would alter her life in ways she hadn’t expected.
She began sharing moments of her family life on social media—not for attention, but to educate others about dwarfism, parenting, and the realities of raising children while living with genetic conditions that are often misunderstood.
At the time, Charli had no idea how many people would be touched by her story. What began as a personal outlet soon grew into a powerful platform.
Today, Charli’s Instagram account has over 300,000 followers, many of whom have found understanding, comfort, and inspiration in her raw honesty.
Through photos, captions, and thoughtful reflections, Charli has shown that her family’s daily life—filled with love, exhaustion, laughter, worry, and joy—is not so different from that of any other family.
Yet, beneath this normalcy lies a level of complexity that most families will never face.
Two Types of Dwarfism, Four Possible Outcomes
Charli has achondroplasia, the most common form of dwarfism. Cullen has geleophysic dysplasia, a much rarer genetic condition.
Because each parent carries a different genetic variation, every pregnancy carries four possible outcomes for their baby:
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The child could be of average height.
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The child could inherit Charli’s achondroplasia.
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The child could inherit Cullen’s geleophysic dysplasia.
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The child could inherit both genetic conditions, a condition known as double dominant dwarfism, which medical professionals have determined would be fatal either at birth or before.
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This reality means that pregnancy is not only an emotional journey for Charli and Cullen—but also a deeply medical one. Each pregnancy requires close monitoring, consultations with specialists, and genetic testing, which carry both physical risks and emotional burdens.
The Strain of Genetic Testing
When Charli announced she was 14 weeks pregnant with their third child, the news was joyful but also bittersweet.
Unlike most expectant parents, Charli couldn’t look forward to the typical pregnancy milestones without fear.
While many women celebrate the 12-week mark as a time of reassurance and public joy, Charli faced something very different.
At 12 weeks, she was preparing for Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS), a genetic test that analyzes the baby’s DNA.
CVS involves inserting a needle through the abdomen to collect placental tissue, carrying a 2% risk of miscarriage. This statistic weighs heavily on anyone undergoing the procedure—especially when the results could determine if the pregnancy can continue.
Charli shared this experience openly, explaining that while others were excitedly announcing their pregnancies, she was heading into a procedure that could change everything.
Waiting for News No Parent Wants to Hear
In an emotional Instagram post, Charli spoke about the gravity of what she and Cullen were anxiously awaiting.
The test results would determine not only the baby’s genetic makeup, but also whether the child could survive.
She explained that they were waiting to find out if she would be able to bring this baby into the world in March 2021, or if the baby’s journey would end before it ever truly began.
Few parents are ever forced to face such possibilities.
The waiting period, filled with uncertainty and fear, was emotionally exhausting.
Yet Charli chose to share her vulnerability publicly—not to seek sympathy, but to help others understand the complex decisions behind their family planning choices.
Living Under Public Scrutiny
By sharing her life online, Charli also opened herself up to criticism. Some questioned her decision to have children at all, pointing to the genetic risks involved.
Others voiced their opinions on what they believed responsible parenting should look like, often without understanding the medical realities or emotional weight of the situation.
Charli addressed this criticism head-on.
She acknowledged that people were entitled to their opinions but emphasized that the decision to bring a child into the world under these circumstances was never taken lightly.
Her message was clear: kindness matters. Behind every pregnancy announcement may be a story of fear, pain, hope, and resilience that outsiders never see.
Two Daughters and a Growing Family
Charli and Cullen’s first two children—Tilba, now four, and Tully, now two—each inherited one of their parents’ forms of dwarfism. Both girls are thriving, surrounded by love, and growing up in a home where difference is not just accepted, but celebrated.
When Charli became pregnant again, the family faced the same four possible outcomes.
They waited, hoped, and emotionally prepared for whatever news would come.
Eventually, they learned that their baby did not inherit the fatal combination of genes. In late February, Charli gave birth to their third child, a baby boy named Rip.
Welcoming Baby Rip
After Rip’s birth, Charli shared a photo of herself holding her newborn, paired with words that resonated deeply with parents everywhere.
She wrote about the exhaustion, gratitude, and overwhelming emotions that come with bringing a new baby into the world.
Her message was simple yet profound: there is no “correct” way to be a mother—and just as importantly, no “wrong” way either.
Her words struck a chord with thousands of parents who saw themselves in her honesty.
Sleepless nights, self-doubt, love, and resilience are universal experiences, regardless of physical differences or genetic conditions.
Redefining Parenthood
Through her openness, Charli has helped break down harmful stereotypes about disability and parenting.
Her life shows that being a parent with dwarfism does not make someone less capable, less loving, or less prepared. Like all parents, Charli and Cullen worry about their children, celebrate milestones, face challenges, and grow as individuals.
Their home is filled with the same joy and chaos found in households around the world.
What makes their story unique is not their differences, but their willingness to share the realities of their lives.
A Message of Compassion
Charli’s journey highlights a vital truth: family decisions are deeply personal and rarely as simple as they seem from the outside.
Her story encourages empathy—reminding us that behind every visible difference is a complex, meaningful human experience.
By choosing transparency over silence, Charli has helped educate thousands about dwarfism, genetic testing, and the emotional realities of pregnancy.
In doing so, she has created a community based on understanding, not judgment.
An Ongoing Story of Strength
Today, Charli, Cullen, and their three children continue to share their lives online—the highs and the lows, the mundane and the extraordinary.
Their story isn’t about perfection, but about love, resilience, and authenticity.
Ultimately, Charli’s message is simple yet profound: parenthood isn’t defined by genetics, height, or public opinion. It is defined by love, care, and commitment.
Her journey reminds us that while every family is different, the hopes, fears, and joys that connect parents are universal.