DCDA TWINS!! Identical or not?

[Missybee]

Had first scan yesterday and was shocked to find out that I'm having DCDA twins. Each with their own placenta and amniotic sack. DCDA are most likely non-identical, but if the egg split very early you might get identical twins that are DCDA. So unless you have boy/girl twins you need a DNA est when they are born to be 100% certain whether they are identical, apparently.

However, I'm confused as there is conflicting information out there stating an ultrasound may be able to determine if they're dizygotic or monozygotic. In other words, as mentioned before, are they the result of two sperm fertilizing two ovum or one ovum fertilized by one sperm which split 1-4 days after fertilization and therefore are identical twins with seperate placentas and amniotic sacks.

My biggest question is, if they are identical could the nuchal translucency test measure differently? Both my twins measured slightly different. OR does this mean they're non-identical?

I'm also 39 so I'm inclined to think they're probably dizygotic as older women are more likely to hyperovulate - kind of like a 'going out of business, buy one get one free!' - deal!

Has anyone else had twins, having twins, or an expert on twins who could perhaps shed some light?

 

[KoleIcepole]

Congrats! I'm having the same!!! Mostly all twins measure different, I don't think that has anything to do with being identical or not because I've been told that's genetic, a sign of identical is if your placentas are close or fused together (mine are) but still for testing when they are born because as far as I know from one scan it's two girls lol! I don't think it can be determined from scans, I've had about 8 so far and am 18 weeks due to bleeding etc and no one can tell, I think it's just signs that make it more likely etc. Hope this helps, i'm no expert lol!

My main piece of advice is take everything easy I was floored when I found out I was having twins and am pretty exhausted all the time, so make sure to drink plenty and rest plenty and enjoy all the extra scans and double the love twins are something special!

 

[littlemonkey]

I don't think it can be definitive from a scan, more of an educated guess based on the placenta, sac and gender etc.

My sisters are twins and my mum was told they're identical with scans based on one placenta, one sac and being the same gender. This was 30 odd years ago before genetic testing was widely available. They've never been tested to confirm it.

 

[BunnyN]

I don't think their NT measurement being different would mean much. It is just a small sac of fluid and can vary from day to day. It can measure large due to genetic problems like downs syndrome but it also depends factors like how efficient their heart and kidneys are.

 

[Missybee]

Congrats! I'm having the same!!! Mostly all twins measure different, I don't think that has anything to do with being identical or not because I've been told that's genetic, a sign of identical is if your placentas are close or fused together (mine are) but still for testing when they are born because as far as I know from one scan it's two girls lol! I don't think it can be determined from scans, I've had about 8 so far and am 18 weeks due to bleeding etc and no one can tell, I think it's just signs that make it more likely etc. Hope this helps, i'm no expert lol!

My main piece of advice is take everything easy I was floored when I found out I was having twins and am pretty exhausted all the time, so make sure to drink plenty and rest plenty and enjoy all the extra scans and double the love twins are something special!

Ha ha! Same here. Asked the sonographer if he was joking (which is the exact same response I get when I tell people I'm having twins). Just couldn't believe it! At least I have 5 or so months for it to sink in. So thrilled and scared at the same time. Oh yeah, and you're not wrong about the exhaustion - I can't walk for more than 1 hour without feeling like I'm going to pass out and my muscles ache as if I'm getting the flu.

I didn't get any feedback on the placenta being fused. On my notes it says "Lambda sign with thick intertwin membrane noted".

Congrats on your twin girls! I'm guessing your bleeding will stop as your pregnancy progresses. Is it due to a low lying placenta?

Congrats to all you ladies on your pregnancies, multiples or not and thanks. I wasn't aware the nuchal measurements can vary so much day to day and twin to twin (identical or not). Measurements came back at 1.7mm for twin 1 and 1.5mm for twin 2 so just waiting for the blood test results and hopefully they too are in the normal range.

 

[caseysmummy11]

Hi hun. Im have twins. Mine are mc/dca or mo/di. Which means they have one placenta two amniotic sacs. Mine nuchal readings were 1.4 and 1.7 but the blood test they test as a pair as they share a placenta. Mine came back as low risk. Im also having 2 girls. Like koleicepole said take it easy. Also as hard as it is try not to read too much online as there can be some quite scary stuff out there. You will probably have regular scans so they will monitor growth of both babies. I worried from 12 weeks-16 weeks scan as baby b was smaller than baby a. But they have caught up now. Congratulations hun xxx

 

[KoleIcepole]

I said the exact same thing, I just said oh you're kidding, and turned to my partner and told him I hated him jokingly of course but I had to blame someone lol! I was shaking for over an hour and am still shocked at the idea of twins. Won't be real till they're here.


They originally thought I was mo - di like casesysmummy because my placentas where so close together but later scans showed there was definitely two, plenty of the way out of the exit, I was bleeding due to a cyst outside my womb (although I also had a few pockets of blood in my womb too) my twins always measure different to each other, one is definitely smaller but I'd be totally shocked if they came out the same weight anyways so all that is normal too

Make sure and shock plenty of people! I love telling people i'm having twins especially when they mention my bump it's always an Omg! Haha! Xx

 

[MysticTeen]

Sorry if this is off topic, but how early can a doctor see if there are twins? I REALLY REALLY want twins. I went in for a six week ultrasound and dr couldnt see twins. Could it be hiding? Is it possible?

 

[KoleIcepole]

They should definitely be able to tell by your 12 week scan

 

[caseysmummy11]

I had a scan at 6 weeks 5 days privately just for reassurance ( that's when I found out it was twins as I thought I was nearly 9 weeks) we saw two yolk sacs and 2 tiny blobs and 2 heartbeats. Ill try post my pic if it's still on my phone. If not ill post it when I get home xxx

 

[BunnyN]

Usually twins are seen pretty early. Once in a while one manages to hide behind the other and only one is spotted. I did know someone who had surprise twins even though she had had a scan. It is rare though, especially as scans are getting better these days.

 

[Missybee]

Ha ha, caseysmummy - that online research seems to be a catch 22. I try to get as much information as I can so that I can make informed decisions and put my mind at ease about a lot of things but sometimes it backfires and I suddenly find myself filling every statistical gap for almost all obstetric emergencies out there! It's a good thing there are forums like these where one can vent all that craziness in order to appear cool, calm and collected in real life instead of the neurotic mess that one has really become.

Wow, KolaIcepole, what a journey, eh?Glad your twins are doing so well. Suprised that the cyst hadn't made itself known before you became pregnant. Oh and I intend to shock as many people as possible. Being 5 ft 2 I'll probably be as wide as I am tall in a few months!

MysticTeen, if you really want twins and twins don't run in your family, the best things you can do to increase your chances are eat lots of yams or have 3 children and then get pregnant again at 39 (which is what I did). Apparently, the more kids you have and the older you are the higher your chances for twins. A alternatively you can do all three. Oh yeah, there's one more thing actually. If you have lots of money you can get IVF and try for multiple embryo implants but I don't advise this and strongly recommend you enjoy your singletons and if you want lots of kids just have lots of unprotected sex. Who knows, one day you might get two buns in the oven. It's rare to get scans earlier than 12 weeks unless they think something might be wrong, but i think twins can be detected quite early although there are instances where they're missed. Sometimes, sonographers even get the sex of the foetus wrong but it's very rare.

Congratulations and have a healthy pregnancy.