When Charli announced that she was 14 weeks pregnant with her third child, the news came with both excitement and fear.

Because Charli and her husband Cullen each have a different form of dwarfism, every pregnancy brought difficult genetic decisions. Their children could inherit Charli’s condition, Cullen’s condition, neither, or both genetic variations—a combination doctors said would be fatal at birth.

Rather than enjoying a simple pregnancy milestone, Charli faced Chorionic Villus Sampling (CVS), an invasive procedure involving a needle through the abdomen to collect placental tissue. The procedure carried a small risk of miscarriage, but it was the only way to determine the baby’s genetic makeup early in the pregnancy.

Their daughters, Tully and Tilba, had each inherited one of their parents’ conditions. That meant this pregnancy once again carried all four possible genetic outcomes.

Charli openly explained that if the baby inherited both genetic variations, doctors would give her the choice of continuing the pregnancy or ending it. She described the uncertainty as waiting to discover whether she would be able to welcome another child into the world or whether the pregnancy would have to end.

Her honesty also attracted criticism from people who questioned why the couple continued having children despite the risks. Charli responded by reminding people that decisions like these are deeply personal and complicated, and that compassion matters more than judgment.

Thankfully, the story had a happy ending. Charli and Cullen welcomed their baby boy, Rip, at the end of February. Sharing a photo with her newborn, Charli admitted she was exhausted but incredibly grateful.

She also emphasized that motherhood does not come with one perfect formula—there is no single “right” or “wrong” way to do it.

Today, the couple are raising three thriving children while continuing to share the highs, challenges, and deeply personal moments of their family life.