Types of Twins
Are you expecting twins? Well, congratulations! Seems like there’s going to be double the joy after all. But this good news might make your paternal instincts wander about the various types of twins and everything related to it. Worry not, we’ve got you covered!
Here’s everything you need to know about all the different types of twins, and what the difference between fraternal and identical twins is. Find out all this and more, including how different types of twins are formed. Remember that the following article won’t cover all of the different types of twins. Rather we will look at some of the most common ones, such as fraternal twins and identical twins.
Fraternal Twins (Dizygotic)
Fraternal twins, which are also called dizygotic twins, are the result of two separate eggs being fertilized by two separate sperm. This can happen because the ovaries release two eggs and not just one.
Basically, fraternal twins are as alike as siblings would be — in other words, they are not identical. Fraternal twins might be two boys, two girls, or a boy and a girl. Each baby develops in his or her own placenta.
Identical Twins (Monozygotic)
Identical twins, or monozygotic twins, form when one fertilized egg splits in two and grows into two separate embryos. The twins are the same gender, share the same blood type, and share the same physical traits. Identical twins may or may not share one amniotic sac.
One of the most common questions asked is “Do identical twins have the same DNA?” They actually do have the same DNA at birth but eventually the DNA becomes more distinctive based on environmental factors. This is how each twin evolves to be a unique individual. For more on your little one’s development, check out what happens week-by-week during a twin pregnancy.
Conjoined Twins
In some rare cases, the embryo only partially separates, and the two fetuses remain partially connected as they grow. Conjoined twins can connect at different spots, including the chest, abdomen, or hips. The twins may also share one or more internal organs. Sadly, many conjoined twins do not make it to full term or live only a short while after birth. Conjoined twins who do survive are sometimes successfully separated by surgery.
Do Twins Share A Placenta and Amniotic Sac?
Sometimes twins share the placenta (the organ that connects mother to baby), amniotic sac (the inner membrane), and chorion (the outer membrane), and sometimes they each have their own. Your healthcare provider will be able to explain which of these is relevant for your pregnancy, and what it might mean for your pregnancy and babies.
Diamniotic-dichorionic Twins
These types of twins have their own chorions and amniotic sacs, but they may or may not share the same placenta.
Diamniotic-monochorionic Twins
These types of twins share a chorion and a placenta but are in separate amniotic sacs.
Monoamniotic-monochorionic Twins
These types of twins share a chorion, placenta, and amniotic sac. This is the rarest type of twin, and it means a riskier pregnancy as the babies can get tangled in their own umbilical cords. If you have monoamniotic-monochorionic twins, your healthcare provider will monitor your pregnancy closely.
Is It Common To Conceive Twins?
Multiple births — which include twins, triplets, quadruplets, and more — have become more common in recent years because more couples are turning to fertility drugs and IVF treatments to help them conceive. In the United States, twins account for about 3 percent of live births.
Getting pregnant over the age of 30, being a twin yourself, or having a family history of twins on the maternal side can also increase your chance of having twins.
If you’ve just found out you’re pregnant with twins, read more about twin pregnancy and what to look forward to, and use our Due Date Calculator to get an estimate of when you might meet your little ones.
The Long-Short
It might be a little tricky to understand the entire biology behind the different types of twins. What you really need to know is that having twins is definitely a miracle of nature. It doesn’t matter which kind of twins you are having; they will make your life happier with double the laughter and double the joy.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Fraternal twins, which are not identical twins, are the most common type of twins.
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