Did not look alike at birth but they sure do now

Has anyone else had this happen?

When our twin sons were born they seemed to look a lot alike, but then after a few days we were starting to think they were fraternal because they began to look different. Initially there was a slight weight difference (6.2 and 5.11 at birth), and maybe that could have accounted for some of their facial differences. But as they grew they seemed to look more different all the time, so we were pretty sure they were fraternal at that point. Fraternal twins run in my family, so I was not surprised.

But somewhere between 5-7 months they really started to look a like again. Now people have a hard time telling them apart, and I am starting to think maybe they are identical after all! Besides the similarities in their faces, their feet look almost exactly alike, their hair is the exact same, they weight within grams of each other....etc. I don't have any trouble seeing all the differences, but when they are sleeping sometimes they look alike even to me. So, I am almost certain they are ID.

Has anyone else ever had this happen? This change over time?

There were Mono-di twins.

 

They were Mono-Di? As in 2 sacs and 1 placenta? That means they are identical!

 

There was one corion (spell?) and two sacs, but the doctor was unsure about the placenta. It appeared to be one, but he said it also could have been fused.

He said that the type of twinning I had meant they could be either ID of fraternal.

I tried to educate myself about all the different types of twinning, but I guess I am still confused.

We did have a scare early on that they were mo-mo twins, but then they found the sac separation. It became obvious after 14 weeks or something. But it was quite thin and hard to see. I thought that surely meant they were ID, but the doc said that it could still be either way and I would have to have a DNA test to know for sure.

 

I thought mine looked very differnt at birth. It wasn't until 6 or 7 months when I started to see the similarities and that's when I did the DNA test. Did they not do a analysis on the placenta after birth? Mine had a fused placenta but the DNA test showed they were ID.

 

I have mono di twins as well and to me they look completely different, but everyone keeps telling me the older they get the more they are looking alike. For me there was for sure 1 placenta, and nothing fused, it had the Y in it where their cords were attached to it. We could always do the frat or ID game with your boys.

 

Any bigger pics?? From that little one, tho, I'd say frat but it's HARD to see it If they had ONE chorion tho they ARE identical and your doc should have told you that when you were pregnant. Also, from the description you just gave it's OBVIOUS that they ARE identical. Totally, if you EVER thought they were mo mo twins-- they are id!

GL and share more pics

 

I'm glad you posted this thread. We were told all along when I was preg that my twins were mono-di. They looked ID when they were born - but soon after began to look so different. I'm eager to see if that changes - and they look ID again as they get older. I just thought we were the only ones in this situation!!

 

I was going to post something about this a few days ago because I assumed I was the only one, too! I have mono di boys who look very, very different. First of all, we're an unusual case because we did IVF, but got pregnant with identicals. I have wondered on many, many occasions if the docs were just mistaken and there were two placentas (we transferred two embryos), but we were evaluated by many docs along the way and the placenta was examined by a pathologist after birth and everyone says mono di. They also had TTTS. Anyway, my boys are 3+ lbs different in weight, have different head shapes, eyes, ears, noses, etc... There are certainly similarities, but it's more like brotherly similarities than ID twins. Even our baby nurse asked me if I was sure there was only one placenta. Everyone keeps saying they'll look more alike as they grow or that the littler one will "grow into" the bigger one. But, so far, that's not happening. I kind of figured we had the most unidentical identicals out there, but maybe we're not alone! It's just strange to me, I expected identicals!!!

 

I was told my boys were fraternal at birth...di/di with a fused placenta. However, we did not have them nor have had them tested. But I guarantee you that around the 6-9 month mark we noticed they were looking very similar, and how I as a dark haired, dark eyed, half Korean girl with a blue eyed, brown haired husband, would have two green eyed boys (exactly the same shade of green too) is beyond me (they were born with blue which I thought would turn brown but instead, they both turned grey, then greyish-blue, then green-blue, then more a hazel green and now green). I mean I am the mother of dominant features/characteristics as is evinced by my baby girl...ha.

Seriously, I think my boys are ID and as they get older they look more alike. The primarily difference in the early months for my boys was head shape and hair density/length. Lucas was my presenting twin and he had a longer more slender face/head and his hair was shorter. Jonas's face was always rounder and his hair grew a bit longer, but after the boys' first hair cut at a year old, we really noticed the similarities. I've played ID/frat many a time here and have unanimously been told not to test mine as they are ID.

Do you have any other pictures?

 

If they were truly mono-di then they are ID. But if they aren't sure about the placenta & didn't do any tests afterward, then a DNA test would be the only way to know for sure. I think the odds are probably pretty good that they are ID, though.

 

Thanks for all the information.
They did do a test on my placenta, but, if I understand correctly, he said they still could not tell if it was one or fused.

So, does Mo/Di twins always mean ID? I thought that was usually the case, but my doc said it could be other way. I am still so confused about how it all works, I guess.

I do have lots of pics. I will try and figure out how to upload them here. I'll try and post some from the earlier months where they look more different and some from now.

Thanks again!

 

Mono/Di twins are always identical as far as I know.

 

From Wikipedia:

All this seems right. I didn't know there was any chance they could be fraternal, but the bold statement seems to say there is a very small chance. I couldn't find any info on how big that chance is.

 

So, we are not the only ones! How soon after did they start to look different?
The moment they were born ours did look A LOT a like....but then within a day we started to really see differences. Before we left the hospital we were starting to think they were not ID. One of the peds doing routine at the hospital thought they were fraternal.... but now my ped seems to think they are ID.

So confusing!!

 

That's fascinating!

Thanks for the info!

So much to learn about this stuff!