When I was pregnant I assumed that my twins were fraternal. I had a good reason for thinking this. My ultrasounds showed that my babies each had their own placenta. Armed with my undergraduate-level knowledge of human biology I assumed that this meant each of them had developed from their own fertilized egg, as is the case with fraternal twins. With identical twins, each baby develops as a result of a single fertilized egg that splits into two embryos and, typically, you see a single placenta for two babies. So I was surprised when my Ob-Gyn told me, “They could still be identical twins. If the embryo splits early enough you’ll get identical twins that each have their own placenta.”
Apparently this occurs in as many as 30 percent of identical twin pregnancies. So not common, but not impossible. The only way to know for sure whether twins are fraternal or identical is to have them genetically tested. We haven’t had this done so I don’t know for certain whether my girls are identical. What I do know is this; they look a hell of a lot alike. So it was interesting when my husband Sean posted a picture of our 5-month-old girls online recently. A friend asked which of the girls was which and Sean revealed our methods for telling them apart. They are:
1) The Painted Toenail. The day we brought the girls home from the hospital – before we removed their ID bracelts – we painted the left toenail of the first born bright red. This is useful for up close situations, provided they are not wearing socks, and
2) Outfits. We never, NEVER dress them in the same outfit. One is always dressed in pink; the other in purple or white. This makes it easier to tell them apart from across the room.
Our friend replied that she thought Mom’s and Dad’s were supposed to be able to tell their children apart by looks, not painted toenails. And, at first, I was insulted. Of course I can tell my children apart! I’m their mother. I carried them for over 37 weeks. I have gazed on them every day since the day they were born. But here’s the truth. Just when I think I’ve figured out who is who I realize I’m calling my child by the wrong name. The reality is that my husband and I frequently refer to the girls as “This One” and “That One”. Who are you holding? This One. Who is crying? That One.
So whether or not they’re actually identical the fact is, at this stage, they look EXACTLY the same and the bottom line is no we can’t tell them apart really any better than you. We just know a trick or two to make you think we can.
Life in the Crib 