Parents with Dwarfism Welcome Children Despite Medical Challenges

Most married couples can relate to being asked “When are you having kids?” But for Charli Worgan and her husband Cullen, the question was different — and often far more painful. People didn’t ask when they would have children. They asked why. The Sydney-based couple both have different forms of dwarfism, and from the beginning of their relationship, they faced constant public scrutiny. Their height drew attention wherever they went, but when Charli became pregnant for the first time, that curiosity often turned into judgment and disbelief.

Still, Charli and Cullen refused to let others define their path to parenthood. They wanted a family of their own — and they were determined to make that dream a reality. Building a Family Despite the Odds. When Charli gave birth to their first daughter, Tilba, the couple was overjoyed. Holding her in their arms, all the fear and outside noise faded away. Their baby girl was healthy, happy, and perfect in every way. Shortly after, Charli decided to create a social media account to share her family’s everyday life — not for fame, but to educate others about dwarfism and to challenge stereotypes.

She wanted people to see that her family was just like any other: filled with laughter, chaos, and unconditional love. What began as a small project soon grew into something far bigger than she expected. Within a few years, her Instagram account attracted over 300,000 followers, many inspired by her honesty, humor, and courage.

A Third Pregnancy — and a Difficult Reality

Charli and Cullen are now parents to two beautiful daughters — four-year-old Tilba and two-year-old Tully — both of whom inherited one of their parents’ genetic conditions. But when Charli announced that she was 14 weeks pregnant with their third baby, her joy was mixed with fear.

For most mothers, reaching the 12-week mark is a time of celebration — a chance to finally share the happy news. But for Charli, it marked the beginning of another round of painful and emotional genetic testing. Because of their unique genetic makeup, each of their pregnancies comes with four possible outcomes:

1. Their baby could be of average height.

2. Their baby could inherit Achondroplasia, the same type of dwarfism Charli has.

3. Their baby could inherit Geleophysic Dysplasia, the same type of dwarfism as Cullen.

4. Or, the baby could inherit both conditions — a combination called “double dominant dwarfism,” which doctors have determined is fatal shortly after birth.

That means, with each pregnancy, there is a one in four chance that their baby will not survive. So, while most expectant mothers at twelve weeks were picking out baby clothes or posting ultrasound photos, Charli was lying on a hospital bed, preparing for a procedure known as Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS) — similar to an amniocentesis. “It’s a massive needle through my abdomen,” she explained, “to take a sample of the placenta, which carries about a 2% risk of miscarriage. It’s the only way to find out the genetic makeup of my baby.” The wait for results was agonizing. “I wasn’t just waiting to find out the baby’s gender,” she wrote on Instagram. “I was waiting to learn whether I could bring this little one into the world come March 2021 — or if his or her journey would end before it began.”

Facing Criticism with Grace

By choosing to share her family’s story so openly, Charli has received both incredible support and harsh criticism. Some people question her decision to have children at all, given the genetic risks. “I’ve copped criticism for choosing to have babies with these odds,” she said candidly. “That’s a whole conversation in itself. But by sharing this small piece of our journey, I hope people can understand that bringing a child into this world with my odds isn’t simple — it’s a deeply personal decision, filled with love, faith, and courage. It’s all about being kind.” Despite the online negativity, the overwhelming majority of followers rally around her with admiration. Through her posts, Charli continues to highlight not just the challenges of living with dwarfism, but the joy, normalcy, and love that fill their daily lives.

A Miracle Named Rip

In late February 2021, Charli gave birth to a healthy baby boy named Rip. The news brought a wave of happiness to her supporters around the world. In her first post after delivery, Charli shared a heartfelt message alongside a picture of her holding her newborn son. “I’m tired,” she wrote, “but I’m feeling ever so grateful and lucky. There’s no ‘correct’ way to do motherhood — but I’m sure as anything, there’s no ‘wrong’ way either.” Her words resonated with thousands of parents who followed her journey, proving that motherhood — no matter what form it takes — is never about perfection, but about love and resilience.

A Family That Inspires Millions

Today, Charli, Cullen, and their three children — Tilba, Tully, and Rip — continue to share their lives with honesty and humor. Their home videos show laughter, tantrums, bedtime stories, and everything in between. It’s a reminder that their life, while unique, is fundamentally just like everyone else’s. Charli uses her platform not only to document her family’s adventures but also to educate the public about genetic diversity, inclusivity, and empathy. She hopes that by showing the world what everyday life looks like for a family with dwarfism, she can help break down the misconceptions that often surround people with disabilities.

Her story is one of love over fear, hope over judgment, and courage over limitation. Through every challenge — from painful tests to public scrutiny — Charli and Cullen have shown the world that the true measure of a family isn’t in physical stature, but in the size of the heart. And as Charli often says, “We might be little, but our love is bigger than anything you could imagine.”