Do you have Identical Twins or Fraternal Twins?

A friend of mine is currently pregnant with twins. They have their own everything and Peri told her there is a 70% chance they are frats and 30% chance they are identical.

Just want to see how accurate the numbers are in "real life" on this board.. Please vote! Thanks a lot!!

 

I am pretty sure my girls are identical but I don't actually know for sure. They certainly look a lot alike, they both have the same blood type and they were mono/di so I am assuming they are but I never had the test done to prove it.

 

QUOTE(Kyrstyn @ Aug 13 2008, 09:33 AM) [snapback]927988[/snapback]
I am pretty sure my girls are identical but I don't actually know for sure. They certainly look a lot alike, they both have the same blood type and they were mono/di so I am assuming they are but I never had the test done to prove it.



If they were mono-di then they are identical. Plus, yours look SOOOO much alike!! Thx. Did you vote mono-di?? I hope so cuz they are totally ID and cute!

 

Our guys were di-di, too. And our Dr. said the placentas might tell them something, but the only real way to know for sure was to do the DNA test after they were born. We never had to. They look absolutely nothing alike (one looks like me, one is the spitting image of my DH). Even complete strangers can tell them apart immediately. And they have different blood types. No doubt about it - they are frats.

 

Ours are fraternal. One blue-eyed with blonde hair, one brown-eyed with brown hair and different blood types. I can't tell you how often I hear from people that they are sure they are ID though. It does make it a little harder to tell with Annelise in her helmet, but you can still tell they have different eye colors.

 

Supposedly ours were di-di, and we thought they were fraternal initially, but now we think they're id. They look alike (but then again, they look just like my older 2 at that age), but things like they both suck their left thumb, and they've gotten fangs but not the top middle teeth (they both look like first graders) make me think they're id. But we're too cheap to get a test

 

I think everyone who doesn't know for sure should post pictures.

 

Agreed, Beth. Anyone who does not know must post pics NOW! Maybe we'll start a new thread for that!! I'm going to.. that way- you won't have to get a test!!

 

QUOTE(ivfbound078 @ Aug 13 2008, 10:30 AM) [snapback]927981[/snapback]
A friend of mine is currently pregnant with twins. They have their own everything and Peri told her there is a 70% chance they are frats and 30% chance they are identical.

Just want to see how accurate the numbers are in "real life" on this board.. Please vote! Thanks a lot!!


Sometimes even the doctors don't get the stats right! I think what the dr was trying to say was that 30% of ID twins are di/di. That's not the same as saying that 30% of di/di twins are ID!

Only 10% of all twin pg are ID. And 70% of those are mo/di or mo/mo. So it's really a much smaller number if you are di/di - like 3% or something!

 

Ours are fraternal (B/G) but if you look at those early pictures, once DS got some fat on him, they both looked VERY similar!

 

QUOTE(ferfischer @ Aug 13 2008, 10:20 AM) [snapback]928113[/snapback]
Sometimes even the doctors don't get the stats right! I think what the dr was trying to say was that 30% of ID twins are di/di. That's not the same as saying that 30% of di/di twins are ID!

Only 10% of all twin pg are ID. And 70% of those are mo/di or mo/mo. So it's really a much smaller number if you are di/di - like 3% or something!



YEP. That is what I thought! I wanted to ck here cuz I kinda "knew" that in my mind and when she told me I thought to myself "WHOAH! That seems like a high percentage for them to be id!"

I didn't want to say anything cuz I wasn't sure tho.

Thanks!

 

Mine are fraternal. (B/G)

ETA: But I still get asked a lot, even when DD is in a dress!!

 

QUOTE(ferfischer @ Aug 13 2008, 10:20 AM) [snapback]928113[/snapback]
Sometimes even the doctors don't get the stats right! I think what the dr was trying to say was that 30% of ID twins are di/di. That's not the same as saying that 30% of di/di twins are ID!

Only 10% of all twin pg are ID. And 70% of those are mo/di or mo/mo. So it's really a much smaller number if you are di/di - like 3% or something!


Actually, I've heard that 30% of di/di are ID and 70% are frats. So I think what the dr. was saying is correct.

Oh...and mine are definitely frats. Different blood types.

 

QUOTE(ivfbound078 @ Aug 13 2008, 07:35 AM) [snapback]927993[/snapback]
If they were mono-di then they are identical. Plus, yours look SOOOO much alike!! Thx. Did you vote mono-di?? I hope so cuz they are totally ID and cute!

I asked the Neonatologist about that when they were in the NICU, and he said that just because they are mono/di does not mean 100% that they are identical.... I am pretty sure that they are identical, and if people ask I always tell them that they are because its easier than going into the whole "I am not sure..." conversation.

Here are some pics...
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g291/kyr...-001320cc-1.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g291/kyr...-001320cc-1.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g291/kyr...or/Girls073.jpg

 

Mine are identical. We were told identical all through my pregnancy. Well I didn't find out till I was 18 weeks that I was pregnant with twins. Went to all the peri appointments and level 2 ultrasounds being told one placenta with a very thin membrane. Sometimes so thin that they had trouble finding it. It was this way at every appointment. Then lo and behold after I had them they sent my placenta off and they said didi. So then we were really confused, but deep down my gut kept telling me identical. The day I went back for my 6 week checkup my regular ob wasn't there and I asked the fill in about the placenta report and he didn't explain it at all. I wish she would have been there. She was so sweet and to top it off she is an identical twin herself. Anyway we finally broke down and did the test and sure enough identical they are. I still wish I had someone to sit down with and explain in that report what made it 2 placentas fused together because I have read it multiple times and I see nowhere in there where they come up with that diagnosis. I guess that is why they get paid the big bucks and I don't though. Anyway great poll. I hope you get lots of voters.

 

QUOTE(Kyrstyn @ Aug 13 2008, 10:41 AM) [snapback]928158[/snapback]
I asked the Neonatologist about that when they were in the NICU, and he said that just because they are mono/di does not mean 100% that they are identical.... I am pretty sure that they are identical, and if people ask I always tell them that they are because its easier than going into the whole "I am not sure..." conversation.

Here are some pics...
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g291/kyr...-001320cc-1.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g291/kyr...-001320cc-1.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g291/kyr...or/Girls073.jpg



I would say definitly identical and cutie pies. My girls have the same outfitts that are in the second picture.

 

I'm not sure. My boys were di/di and have the same blood type. We are awaiting our results of a DNA test. My guess is fraternal.

 

QUOTE(Sarah74 @ Aug 13 2008, 10:47 AM) [snapback]928172[/snapback]
I'm not sure. My boys were di/di and have the same blood type. We are awaiting our results of a DNA test. My guess is fraternal.



We want to see pictures. I love to try and guess. Definitly let us know what the results are.

 

Fraternal boys for me.

 

No clue but we think they are ID. Sometimes we cant tell them apart an have to look on the top of the heads cause E has a scratch on his hairline. Dev is a little chunkier by almost a pound. Has been since they were born.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f183/Deb...twinpics016.jpg

 

Mine are definately fraternal. (b/g) But some people who have no clue about twins do ask if they are identical right after they say oh how cool you have one of each........

 

QUOTE(my7kdz @ Aug 13 2008, 09:07 AM) [snapback]928222[/snapback]
No clue but we think they are ID. Sometimes we cant tell them apart an have to look on the top of the heads cause E has a scratch on his hairline. Dev is a little chunkier by almost a pound. Has been since they were born.

http://i47.photobucket.com/albums/f183/Deb...twinpics016.jpg

I definitely think they are identical! They are adorable!

 

Definitely frat here (see my avi).

 

The doctors wouldn't make a guess with ours. They had two of everything. But they look so much alike, same coloring, nearly same weights, same heights, same blood types. If I had to bet money, I would say our girls are ID. But we don't know for sure.

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj54/Au...1100509_5_0.jpg

 

QUOTE(Aurie @ Aug 13 2008, 12:29 PM) [snapback]928268[/snapback]
The doctors wouldn't make a guess with ours. They had two of everything. But they look so much alike, same coloring, nearly same weights, same heights, same blood types. If I had to bet money, I would say our girls are ID. But we don't know for sure.

http://i269.photobucket.com/albums/jj54/Au...1100509_5_0.jpg


They sure look ID to me!! And so cute!

 

QUOTE(Kyrstyn @ Aug 13 2008, 10:41 AM) [snapback]928158[/snapback]
I asked the Neonatologist about that when they were in the NICU, and he said that just because they are mono/di does not mean 100% that they are identical.... I am pretty sure that they are identical, and if people ask I always tell them that they are because its easier than going into the whole "I am not sure..." conversation.

Here are some pics...
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g291/kyr...-001320cc-1.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g291/kyr...-001320cc-1.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g291/kyr...or/Girls073.jpg



i think your's are totally ID! and tho they tell me they are ID, i still think maybe fraternal (even tho no one can tell them apart). but when people ask i tell them ID, too cuz i also hate that conversation... talking about my placenta and the membranes and sacs... lol

 

Frats ... b/g. But SO many people still ask if they are identical ... even after I tell them they are boy/girl, and even AFTER I say "Well, they can't be identical, or someone would absolutely have the wrong parts!" ... people still say "Well they can still be identical even if they are opposite sex, no?" ... ummmm, no.

 

I'm in the not sure. Thought fraternal and then I did a post last month and almost everyone said id. I guess I'll get them test. Boys, same everything (hair color, eye color, weight (within 0.1-7 oz since birth), height, blood type, etc). They were di/di and I was told fused placenta.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/Smi...Jonassmiles.jpg

 

QUOTE
I'm in the not sure. Thought fraternal and then I did a post last month and almost everyone said id. I guess I'll get them test. Boys, same everything (hair color, eye color, weight (within 0.1-7 oz since birth), height, blood type, etc). They were di/di and I was told fused placenta.

http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b227/Smi...Jonassmiles.jpg


I would say ID!

 

QUOTE(ivfbound078 @ Aug 13 2008, 09:30 AM) [snapback]927981[/snapback]
A friend of mine is currently pregnant with twins. They have their own everything and Peri told her there is a 70% chance they are frats and 30% chance they are identical.

Just want to see how accurate the numbers are in "real life" on this board.. Please vote! Thanks a lot!!


That was me. My boys were di/di and are identical.

 

fraternal - b/g

 

Don't know. They have a 25% chance of being identical and they do have the same blood type. Most people think they look a like...I don't know...will get a DNA test done at some point.

Dianna

 

we have 2 very fraternal girls
2902.1

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1096...mp;id=656207469
http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=1096...mp;id=656207469

 

QUOTE(Kyrstyn @ Aug 13 2008, 10:41 AM) [snapback]928158[/snapback]
I asked the Neonatologist about that when they were in the NICU, and he said that just because they are mono/di does not mean 100% that they are identical.... I am pretty sure that they are identical, and if people ask I always tell them that they are because its easier than going into the whole "I am not sure..." conversation.

Here are some pics...
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g291/kyr...-001320cc-1.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g291/kyr...-001320cc-1.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g291/kyr...or/Girls073.jpg


Hey,
I guess nothing is 100% BUT "mono" means "ONE" in this case referring to ONE EGG so.. it would have to be that that ONE split. The Neonatologist must have mispoken or gotten confused. I'm going to copy some Wiki Info on here just so everyone can read it, as it is pretty interesting and never gets old for me at least.

Also, did you guys realize that when your ID daughter has a kid and then your other ID daughter has a kid-- those kids will be half siblings.. Also, if your ID kids marry another set of ID's their kids will be FULL siblings.. Crazy right?? Unreal.. I was reading that on Wiki too.

Here ya go!

[edit] Monozygotic twins

Comparison of zygote development in monozygotic and dizygotic twins. In the uterus, the majority of monozygotic twins share the same placenta and amniotic sac,(although not always) while dizygotic twins do not.Monozygotic twins, frequently referred to as identical twins, occur when a single egg is fertilized to form one zygote (monozygotic) which then divides into two separate embryos. Their traits and physical appearances are not exactly the same; although they have nearly identical DNA[1], environmental conditions both inside the womb and throughout their lives influence the switching on and off of various genes. Division of the zygote into two embryos is not considered to be a hereditary trait, but rather an anomaly that occurs in birthing at a rate of about three in every 1000 deliveries worldwide,[8] regardless of ethnic background. The two embryos develop into fetuses sharing the same womb. When one egg is fertilized by one sperm cell, and then divides and separates, two identical cells will result. If the zygote splits very early (in the first two days after fertilization), each cell may develop separately its own placenta (chorion) and its own sac (amnion). These are called dichorionic diamniotic (di/di) twins, which occurs 20–30% of the time. Most of the time in MZ twins the zygote will split after two days, resulting in a shared placenta, but two separate sacs. These are called monochorionic diamniotic (mono/di) twins.

In about one percent of MZ twinning the splitting occurs late enough to result in both a shared placenta and a shared sac called monochorionic monoamniotic (mono/mono) twins. Finally, the zygote may split extremely late, resulting in conjoined twins. Mortality is highest for conjoined twins due to the many complications resulting from shared organs. Mono/mono twins have an overall in-utero mortality of about 50 percent, principally due to cord entanglement prior to 32 weeks gestation. If expecting parents choose hospitalization, mortality can decrease through consistent monitoring of the babies. Hospitalization can occur beginning at 24 weeks, but doctors prefer a later date to prevent any complications due to premature births. The choice is up to the parents when to start hospitalization. Many times, monoamniotic twins are delivered at 32 weeks electively for the safety of the babies. In higher order multiples, there can sometimes be a combination of DZ and MZ twins.

Mono/di twins have about a 25 percent mortality due to twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. Di/di twins have the lowest mortality risk at about nine percent, although that is still significantly higher than that of singletons.[9]

Monozygotic twins are genetically identical (unless there has been a mutation in development) and they are always the same sex. On rare occasions, monozygotic twins may express different phenotypes, normally due to an environmental factor or the deactivation of different X chromosomes in monozygotic female twins, and in some extremely rare cases, due to aneuploidy, twins may express different sexual phenotypes, normally due to an XXY Klinefelter's syndrome zygote splitting unevenly [10] [11]). Monozygotic twins look alike, although they do not have the same fingerprints (which are environmental as well as genetic). As they mature, MZ twins often become less alike because of lifestyle choices or external influences. Genetically speaking, the children of MZ twins are half-siblings rather than cousins. If each member of one set of MZ twins reproduces with one member of another set of MZ twins then the resulting children would be genetic full siblings. It is estimated that there are around 10 million monozygotic twins and triplets in the world.

The likelihood of a single fertilisation resulting in MZ twins appears to be a random event, not a hereditary trait, and is uniformly distributed in all populations around the world.[7] This is in marked contrast to DZ twinning which ranges from about six per thousand births in Japan (almost similar to the rate of MZ twins, which is around 4-5 to 15 and more per thousand in some parts of India[12]) and up to 24 in the US, which might mainly be due to IVF (in vitro fertilisation). The exact cause for the splitting of a zygote or embryo is unknown.

Monozygotic twins have nearly identical DNA but differing environmental influences throughout their lives affect which genes are switched on or off. This is called epigenetic modification. A study of 80 pairs of human twins ranging in age from three to 74 showed that the youngest twins have relatively few epigenetic differences. The number of epigenetic differences between MZ twins increases with age. Fifty-year-old twins had over three times the epigenetic difference of three-year-old twins. Twins who had spent their lives apart (such as those adopted by two different sets of parents at birth) had the greatest difference.[13] However, certain characteristics become more alike as twins age, such as IQ and personality.[14][15] This phenomenon illustrates the influence of genetics in many aspects of human characteristics and behaviour.

A recent theory posits that monozygotic twins are formed after an embryo essentially collapses, splitting the progenitor cells (those that contain the body's fundamental genetic material) in half. That leaves the same genetic material divided in two on opposite sides of the embryo. Eventually, two separate fetuses develop. The research was presented at a meeting of the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology in Lyon, France. Utilizing computer software to take photos every two minutes of 33 embryos growing in a laboratory, Dr. Dianna Payne, a visiting research fellow at the Mio Fertility Clinic in Japan, documented for the first time the early days of twin development. Payne also discovered explanation for why in-vitro fertilization techniques are more likely to create twins. Only about three pairs of twins per 1,000 deliveries occur as a result of natural conception, while for IVF deliveries, there are nearly 21 pairs of twins for every 1,000.[16]


[edit] Zygosity, chorionicity and amniocity
The two types of twins discussed before, monozygotic and dizygotic, are generally referred to as zygocity. Zygocity reflects the genetic type of twins. Two others terms define twin types: chorionity and amniocity. Chorionity refers to the number of chorionic sacs, while amniocity refers to the number of amniotic sacs. The number of chorionic and amnionic sacs can sometimes reveal the zygocity. Monoamniotic twins indicate monozygotic twins. However, two placentas does not provide information about zygocity since monozygotic twins can have two placentas. Chorionicity and amniocity are a result of the division time. Dichorionic twins divide within the first 4 days. Monoamnionic twins divide after the first week.


[edit] Demographics
A recent study found that vegan mothers are five times less likely to have twins than those who eat animal products.[17]

From 1980–97, the number of twin births in the United States rose 52%.[18] This rise can at least partly be attributed to the increasing popularity of fertility drugs like Clomid and procedures such as in vitro fertilization, which result in multiple births more frequently than unassisted fertilizations do. It may also be linked to the increase of growth hormones in food.[17]


[edit] Ethnicity
About 1 in 90 human births (1.1%) results from a twin pregnancy.[19] The rate of dizygotic twinning varies greatly among ethnic groups, ranging as high as about 45 per 1000 births for the Yoruba or 10% for Linha Sao Pedro, a tiny Brazilian village.[20] The widespread use of fertility drugs causing hyperovulation (stimulated release of multiple eggs by the mother) has caused what some call an "epidemic of multiple births". In 2001, for the first time ever in the US, the twinning rate exceeded 3% of all births. studied using the maternity records of 5750 Hausa women living in the savannah zone of Nigeria. There were 40 twins and 2 triplets/1000 births. Twenty six per cent of twins were monozygous. The incidence of multiple births, which was about five times higher than that observed in any western population, was significantly lower than that of other ethnic groups, who live in the hot and humid climate of the southern part of country. The incidence of multiple births was related to maternal age but did not bear any association to the climate or prevalence of malaria.[21] Nevertheless, the rate of monozygotic twins remains at about 1 in 333 across the globe, further suggesting that pregnancies resulting in identical twins occur randomly.


[edit] Predisposing factors
The cause of monozygotic twinning is unknown.

Dizygotic twin pregnancies are slightly more likely when the following factors are present in the woman:

She is of West African descent (especially Yoruba)
She is between the age of 30 and 40 years
She is greater than average height and weight
She has had several previous pregnancies.
She has a family history of dizygotic twinning, especially a mother who is a twin.
Women undergoing certain fertility treatments may have a greater chance of dizygotic multiple births. This can vary depending on what types of fertility treatments are used. With in vitro fertilisation (IVF), this is primarily due to the insertion of multiple embryos into the uterus. Some other treatments such as the drug Clomid can stimulate a woman to release multiple eggs, allowing the possibility of multiples. Many fertility treatments have no effect on the likelihood of multiple births.


[edit] Complications of twin pregnancy

[edit] Vanishing twins
Main article: Vanishing twin
Researchers suspect that as many as 1 in 8 pregnancies start out as multiples, but only a single fetus is brought to full term, because the other has died very early in the pregnancy and not been detected or recorded.[22] Early obstetric ultrasonography exams sometimes reveal an "extra" fetus, which fails to develop and i

 

you are answering it right... they are identical!

QUOTE(Kyrstyn @ Aug 13 2008, 10:41 AM) [snapback]928158[/snapback]
I asked the Neonatologist about that when they were in the NICU, and he said that just because they are mono/di does not mean 100% that they are identical.... I am pretty sure that they are identical, and if people ask I always tell them that they are because its easier than going into the whole "I am not sure..." conversation.

Here are some pics...
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g291/kyr...-001320cc-1.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g291/kyr...-001320cc-1.jpg
http://i59.photobucket.com/albums/g291/kyr...or/Girls073.jpg