Everyone thinks they're identical except us...

[Linguaphile]

Everyone seems to think our DCDA girls are identical, and I find it frustrating when people don't believe me when I say that they're not. To me, they are clearly very different--among other things, they have different hairlines and face shapes, and one is built a bit stockier than the other. Surely things like hairline indicate fraternal, right? I’m just wondering, though, if everyone else is just looking too quickly or if I'm actually blinded as a mother to the fact that perhaps they are indeed identical? Has anyone else with same sex DCDAs come across this issue? I'm tempted to get a zygosity test done, just to prove my point! Then again, the test costs money... :(

Not a life or death problem, but something that niggles...

[RyvitaLoca]

I have friends like that. They are (to me) not identical but they are clearly MORE alike than a normal set of siblings. I have wondered if the egg can split before it is fertilised by two separate sperm. My knowledge of these things is not great, but I wonder if there is a sort of half way between identical and non identical!!
only my friends' close friends and family can easily tell them apart. it is a struggle for people they have met a few times only. and if they're not together, other people struggle to know which one is which. I've known them 30+ years and don't find it hard at all. I know other sets of twins that are just like sisters (or brothers). This particular set of twins is the only set of twins i know that seems to be half way between identical and non identical. is that a gene-thing?? is that possible?

[NinjaLeprechaun]

It is possible to be half-identical, but it's very, very rare - I believe there's only one confirmed set in the world. (Although obviously there could be others who haven't been identified.)

The thing is that I've known confirmed identical twins who were quite easy to tell apart, non-identical twins who are virtually indistinguishable... and siblings of different ages who look exactly alike in photographs of themselves at the same age.
And the more you're around even identical twins, the more you're likely to notice minor differences. So you might think it's obvious because you're used to them.

[Trillions]

How old are they? Almost all babies look identical to me

[AryaOfHouseSnark]

I think there is a 30% chance that twins with 2 placentas and 2 sacs are actually identical, but the egg splits at a different point. When your scanned sonongraphers just say they are non id because they're more likely to be.
I can't link right now because I have to get my 2 up and ready, but will have. Look later.
My 2 are fraternal, completely different face, hair, eye colour. People still think they are identical. I think sometimes people hear they're twins and immediately think they won't be able tell them apart and it puts a sort of mental block in for a while.

[bishboschone]

I'd say it's a simple as you know them so notice small differences between them physically and in their personality. I grew up with Id girls and they had the same face but I knew which one it was at 20 paces. just because you are id you dont have the same personality . The same with your girls . They make look alike to a stranger but they are very different to you .

[MinesAPintOfTea]

Dh and dbil look identical in baby photos. They were born 9 years apart. Its just people looking for identical features in full siblings so finding them. I can see why its irritating though.

[unintentionalthreadkiller]

A friend from twins club was the same as you op that in the end she got her boys tested and they are identical.

For what its worth, I think people just like to comment in some way. Mine are MCDA so they are identical and people like to try and pick out their differences 'ooh she's got bigger eyes', 'she's a bit bigger isn't she'. Erm no, not really they look exactly the same at the minute sometimes I get it wrong bad mother

[harrygracejessica]

We were the same with my twin girls we ended up getting them tested and they are indeed identical - but as parents I think we notice the differences rather than similarities. I have twin boys too who we had tested to find out and they are non identical and everyone tells me how identical they are - they are really different just both blonde hair and blue eyes

[scattered]

Yes I had dichorionic twins and was told non identical- had the test done through the MBF and they are monozygotic. It is correct that the egg can split earlier than usual and appear to be two separate pregnancies. So you never know!

[Littlefish]

My nephews are identical, but have always looked quite different. One was always a little bigger than the other and this led to a different face shape. However, as they have got older, they are looking more and more similar.

[Notso]

People think my two youngest are identical twins.
One is three and one is two, one has floppy ginger hair, one has short wavy blonder hair.
Even family say they look exactly the same except the hair colour.

When I look at them I see what you might call a family resemblance but they still look very different, however I am their Mum and spend nearly all day looking at them.

I suppose I am trying to say is that if people can mistake my two differently aged boys for identical twins then they probably have little chance of differentiating between actual twins who look very similar.

[Diamondsareagirls]

I have b/g twins and I can't tell you how many people ask me if they are identical! It drives me mad!