DNA Test

[craftyashley]

Nope, not what you think. This is not a paternity test... those of you who want to see Jerry Springer, move along, nothing to see here. LOL
So anyway, I found out I was having twins about halfway through my pregnancy, two girls, and it tortured me to no end that I didn't know if they were identical or fraternal. The doctors told me they were "probably" identical, but that wasn't enough for me. It was a daily observance for me... identical or not? I didn't really care either way, I just wanted to know. So I did the DNA test to find out for sure. (the cheapest one was $200- www.genetree.com) Would you pay to find out?

[cay8099]

I Probably would. Knowing is something that could be very beneficial down the road. So are they identical?

[craftyashley]

Yes, they are identical. I (and most strangers) can still tell them apart, though. When I first started looking at the DNA tests, they were around $500+ I thought that was insane. I thought the insurance should have paid for it. It kinda behooves them to know too. But whatever!

[zeitgeist]

Not sure at $500. $200, yes.

[twinfrog07]

That was the biggest thing I wanted to know my whole pregnancy. I actually found out my boys were fraternal after they were born because they had different blood types. They also look a little different from each other but that doesn't stop people of asking if they are identical.

[shadowanna]

When the babies are born, the doctor can tell you if they are identical or not. If they are identical, there will be one placenta; if they are faternal, there will be two placentas.

[craftyashley]

When the babies are born, the doctor can tell you if they are identical or not. If they are identical, there will be one placenta; if they are faternal, there will be two placentas.

Actually it is quite common for identicals to have one placenta. (mine did) A friend who had fraternal twins had two placentas before her 20 wk ultrasound, but at her 20 wk ultrasound the two placentas had merged into one placenta. So that isn't really an accurate way to tell whether they are fraternal or identical.

[luvmy4boyz]

I have never found out if mine are or not. When they were born the doctor said it was hard to know because there was only one placenta but it was so big he said it could have been two fused together but he wasn't sure. We would need DNA testing to know for sure.

Do you go somewhere for that or did you order a kit online or something and then send it in? How long did it take to come back with results? My twins are 14 years old and everyone always asks me. Their pediatrician says he really thinks they are identical but I would love to know for sure and I would be willing to pay $200. I thought it was more than that.

[craftyashley]

genetree.com sends you swabs, you swab the inside of their cheek and send it in. It took around 3 weeks or so. We signed up for an email notification, so it would take longer if you have them mail the results to you. Good luck and have fun!

[Twinmomma]

You can still have identical twins with two placentas.

[SiMaMa]

Just curious, but do all identical twins not look alike? I'm not really too savvy on this subject. . . and also, what benefits would you get from knowing the difference between identical and fraternal? Just wondering . . .i only have one and don't know anyone with multiples, so like i said i don't know much about twins.