Ramblings-n-Writings

Archive for May, 2011

The big question everyone asks …

Are your twins identical or fraternal?

Our answer: That’s a very good question because we really don’t know the answer.

If you look at their picture here, you’ll see a lot of similarities but also some differences. Personally, I can tell them apart, but Daddy has a hard time. In his defense, I’m with them a lot more than he is. However, there have been a few times when I’ve mixed them up. Oops!

How do we not know if they are identical?

Way back in September, at 14 weeks gestation, we consulted with one of the top perinatologists in the state who specializes in multiple pregnancies. We were a little nervous because what we would learn that day would define whether we were a true high risk pregnancy. (Twin pregnancies are automatically classified as high risk until determined otherwise.)

At our appointment, we had an extensive ultrasound focusing on the placenta(s) and the sac(s). The goal was to determine if the twins were “di” or “mono” or a combination. Here’s a bit of a biology lesson …

If twins share the same sac, they are called “mono-amniotic.” If they share the same placenta, they are “mono-chorionic.” If they have separate sacs, they are “di-amniotic,” and separate placentas are “di-chorionic.”

Highest risk is the combination of mono-amniotic and mono-chorionic. In that situation the twins share everything, and the risk increases that one twin could get tangled in the umbilical cord of the other twin.

Least risk is the combination of di-amniotic and di-chorionic.

If you have a mono-mono combination, the twins are always identical. If you have a mono-chorionic di-amniotic combination, the twins are almost always identical. If you have a di-di combination, there is a chance the twins are identical.

So, what did the perinatologist tell us?

We appeared to be a di-di pregnancy.

“Appeared to be”? Yep, that’s what he said. After studying our ultrasound, he couldn’t be 100% sure that we had two separate placentas. He was 99.9% sure that they were in separate sacs even though the division line was really faint. (We learned at subsequent ultrasounds that they were definitely in separate sacs.)

Naturally, we asked about them being identical. His response: Di-di twins are typically fraternal, but they could be identical. He added that obviously if we have a boy-girl combo, then they are fraternal, however if we have a boy-boy combo or girl-girl combo, then there is a high possibility they are identical. (At that point, we did not know the gender of our girls because it was too early.)

Based on all of that information, after delivery, our Ob-Gyn sent the placenta to a lab to be tested. Why? During a twin pregnancy, two separate placentas will “fuse” and grow to look like one placenta. During birth, the placenta(s) is delivered as one and appears to be one. The only way to tell if it truly was two in the beginning is to have it tested. Ours came back as definitely two that fused together.

So, we really don’t know if the girls are identical or fraternal.

What we do know is that my family has fraternal twins, and DH’s family has both identical and fraternal twins.

If twins are identical, they typically develop at the same rate – both physically and mentally. I remember reading that identical twins tend to learn new things/skills within 24 hours of each other. There might be a 2 or 3 day difference at times, but generally no more than a week. Fraternal twins are just like regular siblings and can do things weeks or months apart. If you know for sure that you have identical twins, and one twin has not started the new skill, for example walking, after a week, that is a good indication that there may be a developmental problem.

At this point, LG and DJ are learning everything within 24 hours of each other. First smile, grasping  and grabbing toys, laughing, etc. I’m curious to see the trend for the bigger milestones like crawling, sitting, walking, cutting teeth, etc.

Is there any way to know for sure if the twins are identical?

Yes. It is recommended that di-di twins of the same gender have their DNA tested. A DNA test will give a definite answer.

Why does it matter if the twins are identical or not?

I have two major reasons for wanting to know. I mentioned one earlier – developmental milestones. And the other reason is for their future medical care should either develop a major illness. Identical twins share the same DNA with some minor variations. Depending on the illness, having a sibling with a matching DNA could be beneficial, and could also alert us of what to watch for in the healthy twin.

So, until we have the DNA test done, we will just watch and contemplate which we think they are – identical or fraternal. The general consensus is they are identical, but this momma still wonders.

Ramblings-n-Writings has evolved so much since I started blogging in September 2007. As you can see from the “Archive” list in the left sidebar, sometimes I blog, sometimes I don’t. Originally, my plans were to write about editing, writing, and life on the farm. Over the years, I created my business blog, left the farm, and started writing about books and more books.

Now, as I’ve spent the last 3+ months contemplating what direction to go, I want to return to a more personal blog. One that is about our life in the rural hills of West Virginia. One that chats about the challenges and blessings of rearing twins. One that still mentions books because they are a part of my soul. One that showcases photos of flowers and critters and country life. One that just follows life as it happens and reflects on what has gone by.

I plan to return to my roots of writing about what I want, not what the blogging rules dictate I should write about. My niche’ has evolved into a personal diary for the world to see. You, as my reader, can expect honesty, frankness, and opinion about a vast array of topics.

I do desire to protect the privacy of my little family; therefore I will not share many individual details about them. DH is my husband, LG or Peanut is my firstborn daughter, DJ or Munchkin is her twin sister born 6 minutes later. And I’m still on the fence about sharing photos of my girls. If and when I do share them, the photos will be watermarked for protection and piracy. (For those who know me in real life, friend me on Facebook for up-to-date photos.)

So, with all that said, I’m hoping to blog once or twice a week. It’s hard to say exactly how much time mommy will have each week with twins in the house!

Hi friends! It has been so long since I’ve blogged that I almost forgot how to log on to WordPress! I hope that some of my readers are still out there somewhere.

Lots of changes have happened in my world, and I think I’m finally ready to add blogging back into the mix. In honor of the changes, I decided to switch up my blog design. Hope you like the new look!

And now the news some of you have been waiting for … Remember the whole “twin” thing? Yep, they’re here!!!!! They’ve actually been here for over 3 months. Please meet our daughters – LG and DJ.

They were born in early February at 37 weeks 1 day. LG weighed 5 lbs, and DJ was 5 lbs 14 oz. They were sooo tiny! Both girls were healthy and came home from the hospital two days later. I hope to share more about our wonderful birth experience in the upcoming weeks.

Today (and that photo is from today) the girls are over 12 lbs and 22 inches long.

Life with twins has its own set of challenges, and I hope to continue sharing our experiences to be a help to other twin moms. I know that I read website after website about pregnancy, babies, and twins during the months leading up to their arrival. Some people prefer books about pregnancy or raising twins, but I found personal sites, as well as professional medical sites, to be the most help. So, my desire is to “pay it forward” and help someone else on the same journey.

And, if you are still out there reading this little site, please let me know!