I read a really great post by Emma from Crazy with Twins recently all about the results of the DNA test for twins she had done to prove whether her girls were identical or non-identical. Waiting for the results felt a little like waiting on the results from X Factor, only there wasn’t a winner – it didn’t matter whether they turned out to be id or non-id as they were still a pair of gorgeous, healthy girls!
It reminded me of fun conversations at our local twin club back in the UK where a few parents swore blind their children were non-identical despite the rest of us being convinced they were definitely ID. It’s a really odd thing that parents can always see the difference in children, even with they look so alike to everyone else. A few of my friends are 100% sure there kids are non-id, and they have no inclination to have a test done to tell them whether it’s true or not; their belief is enough for them.
My boys came out looking different. Yes, they are both blonde with the same coloured blue eyes but each take after a different side of the family. T1 has fine, wavy hair, he has a nose full or freckles and his facial features are just like my side of the family, whereas T2 is much taller, has thick, straight hair and definitely looks like his dad. People that give them a quick glance say they look the same, but when you stand them next to one another it’s obvious (I think!) that they are non-identical.
When I had my first pregnancy scan with them back in May 2009, the sonographer told me I was expecting non-identical twins (you can read about the experience here in a guest post I wrote for Christmas Pie Crafts) as they had separate placentas and sacs. The sonographer at the next scan told me the same, as did every midwife I saw through my pregnancy. But even with separate sacs and placentas, same sex twins can still turn out to be identical as I know friends who’ve been through the DNA test and received positive results. According to BabyCentre, a third of identical twins are born with separate placentas and sacs.
The question is, should it matter? Why is it important to find out if your twins are identical or not?
For me, I’d want a definitive answer to the question you get asked constantly. If I felt there was a chance of them being identical I’d have probably had the test done soon after birth, just because I’m so nosey and I wouldn’t be able to wait around for that sort of information. I have no idea why I’d need to know so badly – whatever the result, it wouldn’t matter to me as twins are just as precious whether they’re identical or non-identical, but I know I’d feel the need to know either way! Maybe it’s because I’m too impatient.
What do you think? Would you get a DNA test done if you had twins that looked similar? Have you had the test done? Does it even matter? Do do you think my boys look identical (I can’t see it myself, but then maybe I’m exactly like my friends I mentioned above)? Could you make the decision not to get the test done and be happy not ever knowing if they were id or non-id?
I’d love to hear your thoughts!
I’m linking up with Mami 2 Five’s Multiple Madness linky. Follow the badge to read some more posts about multiples.
Thank you so much for the mention. Ooh I can’t tell just from this pic as they are pulling different smiles. I’ll have to look through your other posts. They do look very alike apart from hair (my two have differences in texture and fullness of their hair).
For me, the main reason of wanting to know, was the annoyance of answering “I don’t know” every time people asked if they were identical. I’d then have to explain WHY I don’t know. To every single person who asked.
I swore they were non identical but two things made me question it…
their teeth – each tooth came through in the same order and within a day of each other. That’s a big sign they are identical.
mirror twins are often identical. I have a lefty and a righty. And when they sleep, they sleep in identical positions, but as a mirror of each other (ie, one has her left arm up, the other has her right arm up).
Would love to read other people’s opinions on DNA tests. Great post xx
Thanks for reading Emma. That’s interesting that your girls have different hair. I’ve been reading more about how identical twins can still look quite different and even be different heights, so maybe it is possible mine are (we don’t have any twins in the family tree which always made me wonder where they came from). My boys’ teeth came through at different times and they achieved different milestones like walking at different times though. They’re both left handed which I find strange – no idea what that means! Thanks for your comment. x
I find this one soooo difficult.
I was a mum with separate sacs, separate placentas. I was told at an early scan of the likelihood of them being identical- even their measurements at an early stage were identical. But then T1 stopped growing at 30weeks.
When they are together people can tell them apart, when people meet one of them they have to think a bit more, and I wonder if this is more about, for want of better words, complacency, or laziness.
Everytime I think about the price of a test, I think about all the things we could do as a family with that money.
Maybe, one day.
The price of the test is a really great point, Debbie. Making memories is so much more important to having a test.
I have to say, I think you’re right – people are a bit lazy at making the effort to remember which child is which (I include myself in this sometimes too!) For some reason when the kids are separated by an obvious age gap it’s much easier to remember x is the older and x is the younger one. People tend to remember who is who with my two as T1 is like a whirlwind and everyone remembers him as he tends to bring a trail of chaos with him where ever he goes!! If they weren’t so different personality wise I think more people would struggle to tell them apart though. Thanks for reading and taking the time to leave a comment. xx
Right up until last year mine went through stages of looking completely identical for a few months to looking different for a few months. But they are 13 now and it is quite obvious they are non identical. They have different shaped skulls (which was obvious even in scans) and jaws. One has curly hair, one straight. Yet they have really unusual coloured eyes. My other 3 all have brown eyes but theirs is a sort of flecked greeny grey, browny, bluey sort of colour. I find it odd that they should both have this unusual colouring and pattern in their irises if they are non identical lol.
We were also given the false information about placentas and sacs, though ours were fused with the cords right together which really flummoxed the midwife who delivered them for some reason lol.
Unless you have the spare cash, I would just wait. As they get older it will probably become quite obvious.
Thanks for linking up with #MultipleMadness x