Identical twins -

I know it is possible to have identical twins be in separate amniotic sacs because the egg may have divised before the sac formed.

But if that is a case is genetic testing always required to confirm if they are identical or fraternal?

And is the genetic testing covered by insurance?

Re: Identical twins -

FM Jenna , she got the testing done for her boys

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I was told my sons were fraternal from everyone.

They were in sep sacs and had sep placentas.

It's very rare for identicals, but just means the egg split super early.

As soon as all their teeth came in together and we found out that they had the same blood type, my mom wanted to get them tested.

All 15/15 dna components came back the same.

The company was great, so easy.

http://www.affiliatedgenetics.com/

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Im curious about this since I was told they were identical and yet, the two look so different to me.

I was told my egg split, I did have one sac but two placentas.

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FM Michelle. I'm pretty sure that her boys were in separate sacs with separate placentas, but the placentas were fused and that's how they determined identical at birth?

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i wonder about this too, but i have the opposite issue. i have identical twin boys - i was seeing an RE so I know I only "dropped" one egg, they had one sac (i had 2x/wk sonos throughout my entire PG so i am sure of that) and one placenta. YET, my boys dont look anything alike?!?
i asked my dr if there is anyway they could be fraternal and was told there is no way, but then why do they look so different?!?

Message edited 10/3/2010 12:24:14 AM.

Re: Identical twins -

Here is what I have learned in the past 12 years of being an identical twin mommy...


How identical twins present in utero has to do with when the egg split...

Im not sure of the exact "day" thing but in essence it goes like this....

1-3 day split = 2 chorions, 2 amnions, 2 placentas

4-6 day split = 1 chorion, 2 amnions, 1 placenta (most common)

6-8 day split = 1 chorion, 1 amnion, 1 placenta (these are mo mo twins monochorionic monoamniotic it's considered a very risky pregnancy)

8+ split is when you get conjoined twins.

Most identical twins are mono chorionic and diamniotic. They can tell via ultrasound that the membrane separating the twins is very thin.

I knew that my girls were identical b/c the membrane separating them was very thin...

The way to tell if your twins are identical is not to look at them as a whole. Look at their features separately...My girls look different to me. But when you look at their features it's the same nose, same eyes, same mouth..just when you put it all together that to me they look different.

I was also told that identical twins look the most different their first 6 months of life...


I dont think that insurance would cover the cost of DNA testing to determine whether or not they are identical or not. I vaguely remember that you may request something be tested regarding the placenta. But I may be off base.

Re: Identical twins -

Thanks so much everyone for your responses! Hopefully in 7 months I will be able to tell for sure which we are having

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I recently had mine tested. They were 2 sacs and 2 placentas. I was told they were fraternal but after birth my dr told me to have their DNA tested because they could be identical.
They have very similar features, same blood type, height, etc... Most people can't tell them apart, but their personalities are so different so that helps.
I never thought to see if the test would be covered by insurance. I ordered it off the internet for $150.

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Posted by luvmytwins

Sorry didn't realize I forgot to put the results in.
Yes they are identical!

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Re: Identical twins -

Posted by luvmytwins

Sorry didn't realize I forgot to put the results in.
Yes they are identical!

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Posted by Smileyd17

Posted by luvmytwins

Sorry didn't realize I forgot to put the results in.
Yes they are identical!

Looking at their pictures, they look EXACTLY alike!

Was it always that way?

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I was told my whole pregnancy that my twins were fraternal. We were even thinking that baby B was a boy. THey had sep sacs and sep placentas...one was anterior the other posterior. Anyway, after birth, the nurses in the nursery said, it's so cute BOTH babies stick their tongues out the same way. I thought that's weird...and they looked so very similar. Features were identical. Only difference was that Sarah had more hair and was the bigger baby. At their 3 mo appt, the Ped said he thought they were identical...he could not tell them apart. He checked their blood type and both are A positive. I had them DNA tested at affiliated genetics, and all 15 DNA markers match. So they are monozygotic twins or identical. Ped said it's rare with the way they were placed in me, but it's possible. And I don't think Insurance companies cover dna testing. I paid $160.

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Posted by Arodisi

i wonder about this too, but i have the opposite issue. i have identical twin boys - i was seeing an RE so I know I only "dropped" one egg, they had one sac (i had 2x/wk sonos throughout my entire PG so i am sure of that) and one placenta. YET, my boys dont look anything alike?!?
i asked my dr if there is anyway they could be fraternal and was told there is no way, but then why do they look so different?!?

Re: Identical twins -

it is possible, but i know that they were only separated by a thin membrane (mono/di) and they are sure i only had 1 placenta so that should mean they are identical. they are definitely starting to look more alike now at 7 months and there have been times when we confused them (for a split second anyway), but they are definitely not "identical" looking.
i know i have their blood type info somewhere in their nicu discharge papers - im gonna look for that now!

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My twins are fraternal - but my dad is an identical twin and I recently looked at photos of him and his brother when they were days and weeks old. They looked NOTHING alike in the early months. . . then I found a photo of them when they were maybe 1 or 18 months and I couldnt figure out which one was my dad, they were so identical.

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So far at 25 weeks they still only see 1 placenta. They are still claiming we are having identical . I guess I will spend the $$ to have the DNA testing done at birth just to be sure.