A Sydney-based mom and dad have both faced plenty of public attention because they each have a different form of dwarfism. Their journey attracted even more attention when Charli became pregnant with their first child.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After giving birth to their first daughter, the proud Australian mom decided to create a social media account to share their family\u2019s everyday life and help educate people about dwarfism. She had no idea just how popular the account would become.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Today, Charli and Cullen are parents to two beautiful daughters, and Charli\u2019s Instagram account has grown to more than 300,000 followers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Recently, Charli shared the news that she was 14 weeks pregnant with her third baby. While the announcement was exciting, it also came with a bittersweet reality because of the genetic risks involved.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Charli and Cullen have different genetic forms of dwarfism. Because of this, their children could inherit their mother\u2019s type of dwarfism, their father\u2019s type, neither condition and be of average height, or both types.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Unfortunately, doctors have explained that inheriting both forms of dwarfism can be fatal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a result, each pregnancy has required Charli to undergo painful genetic testing. The uncertainty has made the first trimester especially difficult, as the couple waits to learn which of the possible genetic outcomes their baby has inherited.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Charli previously opened up about how different the 12-week milestone feels for her compared with many other expectant mothers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHowever, when most at 12 weeks are celebrating the joy of being able to announce pregnancy, I was lining up for Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS \u2013 similar to an Amniocentesis),\u201d she explained. \u201cThat\u2019s a massive needle through my abdomen to take a sample of placenta that carries a 2% rate of miscarriage, in order to test the genetic makeup of my baby.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Despite the difficult circumstances surrounding their pregnancies, Charli and Cullen have already welcomed two daughters into their family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Their daughters, Tully and Tilba, had each inherited one of the two types of dwarfism. So when Charli became pregnant with her third child, the family once again had to wait to discover which of the four possible genetic outcomes would apply to their baby.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For Charli, the journey to motherhood has involved much more than excitement and anticipation. Each pregnancy has brought a mixture of hope, fear and difficult medical decisions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Through her Instagram account, she has continued sharing her family\u2019s experiences with thousands of followers, helping people better understand dwarfism and the challenges families like hers can face.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Her story has also shown that, despite the uncertainty and difficult moments, Charli and Cullen have built a loving family and continue to share their journey with the world.<\/p>\n\n\n\n