Multiples
JuliaAndPete
member
So confused. :\
JuliaAndPete
member
in Multiples
My OB's nurse just called me and confused me.
Had an unsuccessful NT scan last week. Today I had a different scan in a hospital with a better machine (I guess) and the scan went much better.
After my appointment the nurse from my OB's office calls me all confused about where I was supposed to be today. Something tells me she's not the brightest bulb in the tree. She made the appointment!
Anyway, she tells me the Dr (from the old scan) was having a hard time determining whether or not our twins were fraternal or identical?!
At first they told me they were fraternal and one was conceived a few days after and that they were in two different sacs. Now that's all changed?
I don't have any identical twins in my family. I always thought that was genetic? I dunno. I'm so confused. Can anyone help clarify?
Had an unsuccessful NT scan last week. Today I had a different scan in a hospital with a better machine (I guess) and the scan went much better.
After my appointment the nurse from my OB's office calls me all confused about where I was supposed to be today. Something tells me she's not the brightest bulb in the tree. She made the appointment!
Anyway, she tells me the Dr (from the old scan) was having a hard time determining whether or not our twins were fraternal or identical?!
At first they told me they were fraternal and one was conceived a few days after and that they were in two different sacs. Now that's all changed?
I don't have any identical twins in my family. I always thought that was genetic? I dunno. I'm so confused. Can anyone help clarify?
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Re: So confused. :\
(1) Just because twins are fraternal does not mean that they were not conceived at the same time.
(2) Identical twins are not genetic. Fraternal twins can be genetic.
(3) How far a long are you? By the time of the NT scan, the doctor should be able to see if there are separate sacs and/or separate placentas. Sometimes it is hard to see the separating membrane at first, but by 12 weeks, it should be visible.
(4) Fraternal v. Identical is not the important terminology during pregnancy. It is important that you and your doctor know if the pregnancy is mono/mono, mono/di, di/di, etc.
As far as being able to tell if they are identical or fraternal, the u/s can only determine if your twins are mono/mono (sharing a placenta and amniotic sac....sounds like this is not your case), mono/di (one placenta, two sacs), or di/di (two placentas, two sacs). If you have mono/dis you definitely have identical twins. Di/dis are most likely to be fraternal twins, but a percentage of them are identical, and the only way you would find that out is after the twins are born with a blood test. So, technically, you can't really determine in utero whether twins are fraternal....you can only know if they are di/di....maybe that's what the nurse was getting at? Or maybe she just didn't know what she was talking about. Either way, I hope this helps a little. @peakay also has a great diagram explaining the different twin types. It's amazing how much there is to learn!
How far along are you?
It's possible that the placentas fused together and now look like one. And as marchesa said, they could be identical even if there are (were) two separate placentas and sacs.
mo/mo = identical
mo/di = identical
di/di = could be either frat or ID
mo/mo = identical
mo/di = identical
di/di = could be either frat or ID
I totally meant to say identical. Preg brain!
Like PP said though, you do want to get into an MFM pretty quick and start getting monitored by them.
Like PP said though, you do want to get into an MFM pretty quick and start getting monitored by them.
I got one! They're going to start with my mid term ultra sound next month then I'll go from there. Tufts Medical in Boston, MA. One of the best in the country.