Did you find out your identical twins were later fraternal?

I'm wondering if any of you had the experience of being told while you were pregnant that your twins were identical only to find out later they are fraternal? I'm wondering how accurate the diagnosis on the ultrasounds are? At my 11w scan, my u/s technician swore they were fraternal, but the doctor thought they were identical. I think as they get further along, it's harder to tell if they are identical or fraternal, other than the sex?

Claire

 

So are you pregnant or are they here? I knew because mine were in the same sac w/ separating membrane. It's easy to see if they are in the same sac or not when you're less than like 18 week pg. There was no question for us either cuz they shared a placenta ALSO. Give me more specifics on your situation and I might be able to help out more.

 

I was told fraternal even after birth b/c they had seperate sacs/placentas. When they were 4 months old we had them DNA tested and it came back they were ID.

 

Our doctors said there was only one placenta and we were monitored weekly for TTTS. We thought they were ID since we found out it was twins (19wks). When they were born, the placenta was examined to determine if they did have TTTS and research the IUGR that Baby B had. Turns out there were two placentas fused together. Now they could be id or fraternal. We're pretty sure they are fraternal, but it's taken me 7 months to accept that my twins probably aren't ID. It's so hard thinking one thing for several months and then not being sure. They have the same blood type, hair/eye color, but different noses. We're waiting a while longer to do the testing in hopes their eyes will change to different colors.

 

Through my whole pregnancy they said one placenta & 2 sacs which meant identical. After I had them my dr said she thought they were identical but the results of the placenta came back that they were didi. They had the same blood type and looked so much alike that we had them tested and they are identical. I know exactly where you are coming from though. The docter's told me one thing for so long it was hard for me to think that they would be something else. It is worth it if you can spend the money and get the test done. If nothing else you will be able to answer people when they say yes they are identical/fraternal. Oh and how old are your babies and are they boys or girls and congratulations on your twins.

 

Thanks for your replies. I guess I should have mentioned that I'm at 12 weeks. I haven't had my twins yet. I think the further I get along in my pregnancy, the harder it is going to be to tell if they are identical or fraternal. On the u/s, they are right next to each other with a thin membrane separating them. The part that is confusing to me is the triangle part at the bottom and top of the membrane. I was told that is an indicator of separate placentas. I was also told that mine was not big enough to be separate placentas. I don't entirely trust ultrasounds as I know they are not perfect. I'm wondering if a 3D ultrasound is any better?

 

I was told fraternal by my OB, my OB's nurse and during my C-Section. I'm now very very anxiously awaiting the DNA test results because we're all having so much difficulty telling them apart.

 

QUOTE(diamondheart @ Apr 23 2008, 09:59 AM) [snapback]734994[/snapback]
I was told that is an indicator of separate placentas.


I'm pretty sure that placenta separation has to do with when IDs split, so you can have IDs with separate ones too.

we know our are ID because we did IVF and insisted on only 1 embryo being transferred because we didn't want to have twins (already have a DD). Ha on us!

 

QUOTE(diamondheart @ Apr 23 2008, 07:59 AM) [snapback]734994[/snapback]
Thanks for your replies. I guess I should have mentioned that I'm at 12 weeks. I haven't had my twins yet. I think the further I get along in my pregnancy, the harder it is going to be to tell if they are identical or fraternal. On the u/s, they are right next to each other with a thin membrane separating them. The part that is confusing to me is the triangle part at the bottom and top of the membrane. I was told that is an indicator of separate placentas. I was also told that mine was not big enough to be separate placentas. I don't entirely trust ultrasounds as I know they are not perfect. I'm wondering if a 3D ultrasound is any better?


You can't tell if they are identical or fraternal from the placentas and membranes during pregnancy unless you catch it really early on and see only one placenta or no membrane. Identical twins usually have one placenta, but if they split early enough, there can be two placentas. Fraternal twins usually have two placentas, but the two can fuse early on and look like one. A 3D ultrasound won't help at all. When they are born if they have different blood types you'll know they're fraternal. If they have the same blood type, a placental analysis can be done to see if it's really one placenta or two fused together. If none of that works, you can do a DNA test for about $150.

 

Mine are ID - at 8 weeks, we saw one gestational sac with two babies in it. We couldn't even see a membrane between them until 16 weeks. They also shared a placenta and had TTTS, which makes them identical.

And:
70% of ID twins are mo/di (share a placenta)
30% of ID twins are di/di (have their own placenta)
1% of ID twins are mo/mo (share an amniotic sac and placenta)

100% of FRAT twins are di/di - they must have their own placenta. The two placentas can "fuse" and "look" like one, though.

Here is my 12w u/s - you can't even see a membrane:
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y2/colofisch/12week2.jpg

And here is my 8w u/s -
http://i2.photobucket.com/albums/y2/colofisch/us2.jpg

If you have a very early u/s you should be able to tell if yours looks like mine - and are in one gest sac (one chorion) and then you'll know. If not, I guess you'll just have to get them tested later!

Jenny

 

I was told identical throughout the pregnancy, though granted we didn't even know about twins until 22 weeks. They had one placenta with a very thin membrane - so thin that even the peri had a hard time finding it. At the birth, I was told it was indeed one placenta. But the pathology report said 2 placentas. Lo and behold, our boys have different blood types so are without a doubt fraternal.

Seeing one placenta early in pregnany is usually indicative of ID. But given what happened to me, I always warn expecting parents that the only way to know is a blood/DNA test.

 

Mine were id throught the whole pregnancy, still are. There was only one sac with a seperating membrane, which originally they didn't see!! They also examined the placenta after the birth and it was not fused!!

Shannon

 

At my first U/S at 6 weeks we saw twins in each sac, very defined. The DR said it could go either way, frat or ID but he thought frat as the membrane between the 2 was thick. Has anyone else been told this? Anyway, they are di/di and all DRs though frat but they always weighed the same at u/s so we thought that might indicate ID, and when they were born they looked a bit different so I thought they were frat but now they look more ID, so if in the next month they don't look different I will get them tested to know for sure. I hate being asked if they are ID and getting the "don't you know?" anserw.