identical vs. faternal

I am sorry if this is a stupid question. My doctor didn't really discuss it with me and the u/s tech couldn't tell me for sure. I am scared to search medical information online because I don't want to find any scary info and work myself up. lol

So anyway, my twins are both girls and they have their own placentas and sacs. So does that make them faternal automatically or could they be identical? The tech said we won't know until their born. I had to take my son to the doctor not long after getting my u/s done and the nurse pract. she thought they would likely be fraternal. It's really not a big deal. I am just all caught up with how we will tell them apart.

 

They could be fraternal or identical. You'll have to wait until they are born to see what they look like or do DNA testing to know for sure. I am in the same situation, my peri Dr thinks they will be fraternal (b/c 2 sacs & 2 placentas), but b/c they are both girls there is a chance to be identical.

As far as twin pregnancies go this is the best scenario for the babies.

 

I agree with PP, they could still be identical even being in their own sacs with their own placentas. If they are born with the same blood type, you will need to get them tested to find out for sure. If they have different blood types when they are born then they are frat for sure.

 

I have di-di identicals, and I only know they are MZ from a DNA test we did at 15 months old.

I think the chance is something like 10 - 20% of same sex di-di twins are identical. It's higher than I would have guessed!

So see if your twins have the same eye and hair coloring, and if they look alike, then get tested.

 

Same here. We eventually got their DNA tested. Also when they are first born, get their blood types. If they are different then they are for sure fraternal. If they are the same, then it can go either way. If they are the same blood type and look the same, go ahead and get them tested. Places online are as low as $99. We used www.dnasolutions.com

 

I'm also in the camp of having had twins that were completely separate in the womb but are identical. (we were told fraternal, but that was 7 years ago ) We took the DNA test when they were about 6 months old to know for sure and they are indeed id. People look at us like we are crazy that we ever doubted it though!

 

Where would you go to get a DNA test, my girls are 9 months and had 2 sacs and 2 placentas and look nothing alike so I assume they are fraternal.

 

I've used proactive genetics- I think they advertise on this site. DNA solutions is another option I've heard about. If there's any doubt the test is a great investment!!

 

Thanks for the replies! I have another question though...do I really need to have the DNA test done or is it something that is just completely optional and so we know?

 

No, you definitely don't "need" it but if there are no other ways of telling if they're fraternal or identical (meaning they have different blood type, diff hair or eye color) I would strongly recommend it because it will be the question you and your girls will for the rest of their lives. My sister and I didn't know our zygosity because back in the 70's they counted placentas to determine id vs frat and our placentas never got counted. We looked an awful lot alike but there were times in our lives that we looked very little alike and we got asked that question ALL THE TIME! We finally got a DNA test when we were 34 and to be able to answer that question with certainty is amazing. I wish DNA testing had been available back in 1972! Your girls will thank you for it!!

 

Our boys were di/di and are ID (we haven't gotten the test yet but there's no doubt in my mind - they look exactly alike!) Our girls we were told were mono/di (even a placental analysis said there was only 1 placenta) but it turns out the placenta must have fused since one girl is a redhead and the other a brunette and they look nothing alike. So you never quite know what you'll get until they are born! :lol: