• Skip to main content
  • Skip to secondary menu
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer
Pregnancy Logo 2018

Pregnancy Magazine

Pregnancy and infancy news, tips, and reviews

“Great
  • Pregnancy
  • Labor & Delivery
  • Baby
  • Breastfeeding
  • Buyer’s Guide
  • mom

Identical or fraternal twins: What’s the big difference, anyway?

by Pregnancy Editors Leave a Comment

You already know that having a baby is about to turn your world upside down, but what happens when you discover that you're pregnant with twins?

This discovery can be the stuff of great excitement among your family members, but it can also just as easily be a source of shock and downright anxiety for you, especially if you weren't even planning for a baby in the first place!

Having twins – and even figuring out what the big difference is between having an identical or fraternal set – can keep you busy during the final trimester of your pregnancy in more ways than one. Consider these helpful tips to gain insight into your impending delivery.

Identical vs. fraternal
Not all sets of twins are alike – in fact, pairs can be either identical or fraternal. But if this is your first pregnancy, you may be unsure what this even means. Identical twins are true mirror images of each other, and develop from the same fertilized egg. In the case of these twins, a woman's egg, once inseminated, has split in two, but the same basic genes exist for both.

For fraternal twins, conception is different. A woman may have released two eggs at the same time, and each has been fertilized separately, making the children essentially the same as any other set of siblings.

Should I double up on everything?
As a first time mother with twins on the way, that initial excitement can give way to serious anxieties. For one, you may be afraid about the stress and emotional impact that raising not one, but two little ones simultaneously will have on your life (not to mention your relationship). And if you're a single mother, that anxiety is probably even greater, as you may not be certain how you'll be able to manage the responsibilities that having two babies at once will bring.

Whether you're in need of single mother help or you're just plain nervous about the kind of planning that may go into having twins, one thing is probably on your mind more than any other: Do you need to buy two sets of everything?

While it's cute to imagine babies in their matching dresses or ensembles and playing with the same sets of toys, the fact is, you actually don't need to do this, especially if money has been tight.

A few things you'll absolutely need to have two of though? You should budget for two car seats and two cribs, for comfort and for safety. When it comes to strollers, you can be savvy by investing in a double stroller for both babies, along with playmats and swings.

Filed Under: Pregnancy Lifestyle Tagged With: Pregnancy Lifestyle

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Primary Sidebar

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • LinkedIn
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
Peaceful Discipline by Sarah Moore

More to See

parent coaching

Parent Coaching: 3 Ways to Create a More Joyful Home

By Sarah Moore

The perfect workout for pregnant women (sponsored)

By Isa Herrera, MSPT CSCS

how to be a good mother

How to Be a Good Mother: 5 Ways To Raise Children with Love & Respect

By Sarah Moore

Aligned Parents webinar

By Paul Banas

Footer

Copyright 2023 Pregnancy Magazine Group

Emails powered by Wishpond: PregnancyWishpond

Dedicated WordPress hosting: PregnancyFlywheel

WordPress Theme: PregnancyTheme

This website provides information of a general nature and is designed for educational purposes only. It is not a substitute for an examination by your healthcare provider. If you have any concerns about your own health or the health of your child, you should always consult with a physician or other healthcare professional. Please review the Terms of Use before using this site. Your use of the site indicates your agreement to be bound by the Terms of Use.

 

Recent

  • A Beginner’s Guide to Gentle Parenting: 5 Ways to Lead with Love
  • How to Be a Good Mother: 5 Ways To Raise Children with Love & Respect
  • Best Parenting Books: 28 Books That Will Change Your Life for the Better
  • Aligned Parents webinar
  • How to make sure your home is ready for the new addition to your family

Search

© Copyright 2023 Pregnancy Magazine Group · All Rights Reserved

This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. Cookie settingsACCEPT
Privacy & Cookies Policy

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are as essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. These cookies do not store any personal information.
SAVE & ACCEPT