Lots of new words
Posted in Pregnancy on June-22-2007

I’ll be 42 soon and today I just learned three brand new words: Zygosity, monozygotic and dizygotic. And I can tell you, I’m feeling just a little bit pleased with myself about it. Zygosity is a noun – and could be used thus “Have you determined the zygosity of your twins yet?” (meaning have you found out if they are identical or non-identical?).

A standard answer could be “Yes, actually, they are monoxygotic.” (identical) or “Well, funny you should ask, but luckily for us they are dizygotic (non-identical). That’ll save us having to look closely at each of them to remember which one is which.”

Although we don’t yet know the gender of ours, we do know they are dizygotic which is something of a relief… for me, in any case. I know I would love them equally if they were identical but….. I’m so gullible and unobservant that I just know they wouldn’t have to do too much to confuse me. I can see the fall-out going on forever.

Me: “OK, so tell me, be honest, which one of you was driving the car when it went off the road and into the lake?”

“It was him” they say as they both simultaneously point at each other.

Thank God I won’t have to go through that.

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Comments:
Jane on August 9th, 2007 at 7:32 pm #

Hi again,
I have just read this blog and have realised that there is no need to ponder about the sex of your twins because if they are non id then there is a huge chance they are boy/girl twins. The hospital will generally say to you about the chances of them being identical if they are same sex but if you have been told that they are non id then they could basically be saying that they are not same sex.

Mrs Snowflakes on August 10th, 2007 at 9:46 pm #

Not neccessarily non-identical…our twins were classed as non-identical or dizygotic as they were in separate sacs, appeared to have separate placentas and displayed the “lambda sign” between the sacs. They were so alike once born that we had their DNA tested at about 4 months which confirmed that they wer in fact identical. Moral of the story - you cannot be 100% until they are born without DNA testing (unless they are boy/girl!). Our consultant later admitted that they should not categorise twins before birth.

Congratulations to you both - hope you manage to find the right new car.

Luke on August 16th, 2007 at 6:03 pm #

Thanks for your posts. We went the IVF route so we’re pretty sure the twins come from different eggs. I’m guessing that’s the reason we’re expecting them to be non-identical.

I’m hoping they look different. Otherwise I just know I’m going to become the most awful father and consistently mistake them for each other.

Thanks for commenting.

And thanks Mrs Snowflakes about the car. The quest is still on….

Kent Girl on September 30th, 2007 at 5:57 pm #

I was told my girls were dizygotic as I had two placentas. However, after they were born they became increasingly similar, even cutting teeth the same day. We had a DNA test done via the Multiple Birth Foundation and it showed what we knew, but what the doctors denied: they are monozygotic twins. Apparently 1/3 of identical twins have their own placenta.

Identical is a mis-nomer, because of the mitochondrial DNA that differs between monozygotic twins, explaining many differences between so-called identical twins.

Luke on October 3rd, 2007 at 4:25 pm #

Thanks for the comments - you see now Im really nervous - I have no idea if they’ll be identical or not. And I REALLY don’t want to have to tattoo either of them. I haven’t got a tattoo myself and I think doing that to kids is just not on. If we get boy and a girl that should make identification a bit easier. But, as always, we’ll just be delighted with whoever we get on the day.

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