10 Weeks Old & How are twins made?

By Cyndi
February 22, 2011

This weekly post will be a update from last week, along with an educational section on "How Twins are Made"

Week 10 Update

I have scored big on diapers (see previous post).  I thought we'd receive atleast 10 guesses, so I am holding out another day or two before I post how much I paid and how I did it (Laura -- I will give you all the details!!)

At the 2 month visit, both boys were given prescriptions to Zantac, for the reflux.  This will not prevent them from spitting up, but will make it less painful for them.  A few times per day, each of them would have reflux, turn red, arch their back and scream (not cry, SCREAM).  We made an unscheduled visit to the pediatrician last Friday since Zach's diaper rash not cleared up and to discuss his prescription to Zantac, because it didn't seem to be helping (Tyler has responded well and we see it in his face that it is happening, but he doesn't seem to be in pain).  We were given another diaper cream regime & increased Zach's  Zantac to three times per day.  As of today, their tushies look MUCH better ... the best they've look since they came home from the NICU & are doing much better with the reflux.

I've spent a ton of time cleaning out my closet to get rid of clothes from .... oh .... sophomore/junior year in college.  I haven't worn them in years and was finally able to part ways.  We now have two boxes of stuff for donation!!

Last week we also met with Rahima, the day care provider.  We have a list of the items we need to bring with and have the schedule figured out.  T & Z will be headed there T, W, & TH afternoon and all day on Friday.  Daddy Daycare will be in full swing ALL DAY Mondays!!  Mommy Daycare is all weekend long.  It is a total of 25 hours at daycare and will hopefully cover enough time that Matt and I can get a few things done at the house and errands without them, so when they are home, we can focus on them.  I think this will be essential when they become mobile .... ugg, must I even suggest that we will have two crawling babies.  We will need to start baby proofing sooner than we know!

Now, onto the educational section of how twins are made ... read it all, it's good stuff with something you may want to know at the end!

How Twins are Made
We are asked all the time whether Tyler & Zachary are fraternal or identical and we have the same response: we don't know.  Here's what we do know:  two sacs, same blood type.  Yup, that's it!  We don't know if it was one placenta or two fused together.

And now for the education:  (borrowed from another MoM - mom of multiples blog)

Fraternal twins are the result of two eggs and two sperm.  99.99999% of the time, boy/girl twins are fraternal.  Fraternal twins are ALWAYS dichorionic/diamniotic. This means they each have their own amniotic sacs and each have their own chorionic sacs, along with their own placentas. (However, placentas can fuse during pregnancy.)

Identical twins are the result of one egg splitting.  When it splits determines a lot.

-If the egg splits after 13 days of fertilization it will result in monochorionic/monoamniotic. Sharing one sac and conjoined twins may result. (1 Egg, 2 babies, 1 Sac, 1 Placenta)

-If the eggs splits between 8 and 13 days after fertilization it will result in monochorionic/monoamniotic. Sharing one sac and will run the risk of the cord tangling. (1 Egg, 2 babies, 1 Sac, 1 Placenta)

-If the egg splits between 3 and 8 days after fertilization it will result in monochorionic/diamniotic.  Each having their own amniotic sacs but sharing one chorion and sharing one placenta. (1 Egg, 2 babies, 2 Sacs, 1 Placanta)

-If the egg splits 3-4 days after fertilization it will result in dichorionic/diamniotic.  Each in their own sacs and have their own placenta (however, the placenta can fuse) (1 Egg, 2 babies, 2 Sacs, 2 Placantae)

You see the last possibility is the same as fraternal twins (2 Eggs, 2 Babies, 2 Sacs, 2 Placentae).  If you have dichorionic/diamniotic twins the doctors do not know whether it resulted from two eggs or one egg splitting, therefore the only way to be 100% sure that they are fraternal or identical is to do a DNA test. (Unless they are boy/girl twins, then you know they are fraternal)


The DNA test is in the mail.  Hopefully in three weeks, we should know the results!!