I'm New: forgive if this is a tired, repeat question

Hi folks,
I'm almost 13 weeks with our twins. I have a 15 month old son, so we will have three under two by October. I'm just getting over some of the shell-shock and have a "fraternal/identical" question.

We found out we were having two when I was 10 weeks. My doctor let us know by moving the ultrasound wand over and asking us if twins ran in my family (barely: my maternal great-grandmother had fraternal twins). When I asked whether they were identical, the doctor replied that "they were in their own sacs." I took this to mean they were fraternal.

I'm just curious whether you can definitively tell if twins are fraternal merely by the fact they are in their own sacs at 10 weeks. I'm aware that both identical and fraternal twins can be in separate sacs; I wasn't sure if 10 weeks was "early enough" to help determine they are fraternal.

Hope this makes sense. (Nice to find this forum; I hope to be a regular -- to the extent my baby boy allows.)

 

Congratulations!
3 under 2 doesn't sound so bad I will have 4 under 5 when I give birth to my twins.

From what I have been told you can't really know for sure if you are having fraternal or identical twins unless you do a DNA test after they are born.

HOWEVER:
- if they are boy/girl they are fraternal.
- if they have a different blood type they are fraternal.

If they are same sex and same blood type the only way to know for sure would be by DNA test. At least that's how I understand it.

 

If they are in two sacs, they can still be identical. My doctor keeps saying mine are fraternal because that is the train of thought most of the time, but If they look alike when they come out and are the same sex (which mine are both girls), I am getting the DNA done. If the egg split early on, then there can definitely be two sacs. If it split a little later, then there would only be one sac most likely. Good luck to you!!

 

Congrats!

 

Thanks for the information, guys, and for the well-wishes. I'm not sure why I am so interested to know, since really, what difference will it make, but still...

 

My boys were in separate sacs with their own placenta. So di/di. We had to wait until we did the DNA test to know for sure that what type of twins we had. They ended up being di/di identical.

 

Congrats! Twins are wonderful! Our DS was 16 months old when the girls were born and while it was chaotic for a while we all survived and thrived. And in many ways having twins is easier than having a singleton - especially once they are older than a year! Re: twinning I agree with everything everyone has said! You may also find that at birth they are obviously different (one of our girls is a redhead and the other a brunette) which obviously means they are frat.

 

Congrats on your twin pregnancy!! :clapping:
Sounds like you got some good answers above.
Enjoy your pregnancy and I am glad you are here!! :wub:

 

:welcome: to Twinstuff!

 

Congratulations on your pregnancy!!
Its an amazing experience carrying and raising twins! When I gave birth to our twins my son Grifyn was 16 months. Its been challenging, but when is raising children not challenging?! Good luck!
I agree, I think that you have lots of great answers above. I just wanted to wish you luck during your pregnancy and I hope its uneventful and enjoyable!!!

 

:wavey: Welcome to Twinstuff!! Congratulations!

 

I think it also could make a difference in what he meant by "sacs". If they have their own amniotic sacs but are still monochorionic, then they are mo/di and are identical.

 

I thought I'd say "hi" I can't answer your question but I know how you feel right now! Our twins were 15 months old when our son was born!

 

Make sure not to confuse "sac" and "placenta." Here's the breakdown...

mono/mono (or momo): 1 amniotic sac inside 1 placenta (definitely ID)
mono/di: 2 amniotic sacs inside 1 placenta (definitely ID, but this can be mis-read on u/s and end up being 2 fused placentas)
di/di: 2 amniotic sacs inside 2 different placentas (can be ID, but usually fraternal. All fraternals are di/di)

Although a DNA test after birth is a good way to be certain, it is not the only way. If there is only one placenta (and your doctor will be able to tell you this as soon as they are born) then they are definitely ID.

Good luck and :welcome: to Twinstuff!

 

Congratulations on your twin pregnancy!![font="arial][size="3"] [/size][/font]I found interesting reading on this subject at this link...Determining Chorionicity and Amnionicity
I too found out I was having twins at 10 weeks at my first ultrasound. I'm still amazed that I have twins. My babies were in their own sacs and they had a thin, wispy membrane between them. After they were born it was determined they had one placenta, (mono/di twins).

Lots of luck and congratulations again!!