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Well...... not a twim mama, but... Fraternal twins are 2 eggs, 2 babies.. Identical are 1 egg, splits into 2 babies. I would a__sume that an early ultrasound would show 1 yolk sack or 2, one placenta or 2... Plus, how is it even possible for fraternal twins to share a placenta? Each egg would have split, etc, and formed it's own placenta.... Never heard of the stuff you were told before. Will be interesting to see some of the posts.

I agree. I've always been told two placenta's two eggs, two sperm, that's fraternal. Identical share a placenta, 1 egg, 1 sperm, and then it splits into two babies. But the key way to tell is definately the placenta. 2 seperate placenta's fraternal, 1 placenta indentical. Plus identical will ALWAYS be two girls or two boys, never a boy and a girl. I've never heard of this DNA testing you are talking about. I myself am pregnant with twin girls, but have been told by a Perinatalagist that because they are in two different sacs and have 2 different placenta's...that they are fraternal.

From "Twins and Multiple Births" by Dr Carol Cooper: 'There is an approximate chance of two in three that they will be non-identical (Dizygotic) and if they are of different s_xes this will clinch it: by definition boy-girl pairs cannot be identical. If they are the same s_x, there are a number of helpful clues to look for, though others are misleading. Many people, including some obstetricians and midwives, still believe that the presence of two placentas means that the twins are non-identical, while one means they are identical. This is not always true. In non-identicals (DZ), about half the twin pairs have a fused placenta while the rest have two separate placentas. In the one third of identicals (Monozygotic) who have dichorionic placentas (two cords), these are more likely to be fused, but they too can have separate placentas. Only in identicals can there be just one chorionic membrane. Therefore, if the membranes are carefully examined after delivery and there's only one chorion, the twins must be identical. (Your hospital may be able to do this for you - ask in advance)'. Apparently, in a study done for the Multiple Births Foundation, over hald of the mothers had been given inaccurate information, based on incorrect a__sumptions about the placenta and zygosity. DNA testing is the most accurate way of telling if they are identical, but is expensive. Sorry this was long, but I hope it helped.

I am pregnant with identical twins, the reason I know this is because there is only one placenta, and one chorionic sac, with a thin membrane dividing the two babies!!

Read the above post. A shared placenta does not mean the twins are identical.

To "to CB" - CB mentioned only having one chorionic sac, so I think that's mentioned in the extract as meaning they have to be identical. :)

to 'to cb' if you read the posts properly you would have seen that Kay mentioned that only identical twins have one chorionic membrane, and I said that, that is what I have, so get your facts right next time!!! I was first misdiognosed monoamniotic twins!

My girls are identical. They had separate placentas and separate sacs. We did a dna test about 5 monts after birth. Id twinning happens on a continum: IF the egg splits w/i the 1st 72 hours each baby will have it's own support system. Day 4-6 they will share a placenta day 7-9 they will share the same chorion and amnion and placenta and after day 9 they will be conjoined. There is NO way to determine if twins are id or frat in utero unless they are b/g combo or momo twins.

if you do a simple zygosity search in google you will find that many, many, many Dr. are wrong about diagnosing di/di twins are fraternal. The sad thing is that this type of configuration(two sac/two placenta) are the most id of all id twins because the egg split early and evenly but most often misdiagnosed. dna testing is relatively easy and cost about 130$.

Twins4us, that is fascinating! I suppose there is a lot of misinformation out there. I am pregnant with twins with separate placentas and sacs and a__sumed that meant fraternal. I guess I'll have to wait until 20 weeks to see if boy/girl and if not.... wait!! Thanks for the info.

This is exactly what a Doctor of Genetics told me about my twins. Thank you for setting things straight on this matter. DNA is truly the only true way to tell if they are identical, especially if some hospitals are behind in the times as mine was and are unable to tell you, or didn't CAREFULLY observe the placenta/placentas at the time of birth. Also, if the eggs split very early in the process they can have two sacs and two placentas, this also came from of Doctor of Genetics. My peditrician swore there was NO WAY my twins could not be identical, unfortunately he was not there at their birth so he could not observe the placenta/placentas himself.

This is so true, and I found out from a Doctor of Genetics. Thanks for setting things straight.

I have read these facts all over net and mentioned to ultrasonagrapher at hospital who said "googles full of rubbish " when I suggested there was a chance that they could still be identical ...how are we supposed to get upto date information when the people we are supposed to be under the care of are misinformed or their knowledge is dated!?? Grrrrr! Looking forward to s_xing scan of my little twinnies on Sunday :) then I'll be 50% closer to knowing if they are going to be identical! Xx best wishes ladies xx

I have read these facts all over net and mentioned to ultrasonagrapher at hospital who said "googles full of rubbish " when I suggested there was a chance that they could still be identical ...how are we supposed to get upto date information when the people we are supposed to be under the care of are misinformed or their knowledge is dated!?? Grrrrr! Looking forward to s_xing scan of my little twinnies on Sunday :) then I'll be 50% closer to knowing if they are going to be identical! Xx best wishes ladies xx