Joab Jordan & Manoah Mayo's birth story
9/9/25
Born to Josh & Trisha
Joab and Manoah - Birth Story
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Our family welcomed identical, twin boys on September 9, 2025. Joab Jordan came first weighing 6 pounds 5 ounces followed by his brother Manoah Mayo at 5 pounds 14 ounces. Here is our story.
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To tell you the most comprehensive account of their births and glorify God in the details I am going to rewind to December 2023. Josh and I had been seeking the Lord specifically in regards to our family size. I look back in my journal and read about finding unity with Josh and the prayers centered around conception, pregnancy, supernatural childbirth and future baby health. We felt at peace “seeing what happens” for a few months - if we got pregnant wonderful and if we didn’t we would consider transitioning to the next season. In my heart and written over the pages of my journal was the desire for another child. On December 18th at a Wednesday night prayer meeting I was praying about this again, asking for a sign if another child was in our future. I was hit with some vivid images: turtle doves, 2 horses, elephant ears and the number 7. Did the horses symbolize strength? How about the turtle doves? They were offered as an offering after childbirth for the poor. Elephant ears are large and a sign of majesty. Should I be listening with bigger ears? And talk about the number 7. Perfection. Completeness. That would mean we needed two more children, not one?
I don’t think this night’s entry meant anything until you fast forward to my halfway midwife appointment where I asked Dorothy, our midwife, for a cute picture to put in the baby book. I was overwhelmed with so much emotion as I looked to and from the small ultrasound monitor. I remember hearing Dorothy ask me “Do you see what I am seeing?” TWO HEADS. No way! It couldn't be, could it? We had an early ultrasound as I was concerned about miscarriage, and we only saw one little bean at that time. Lying on the bed a rush of panic, fear, doubt and disbelief hit and I couldn’t quite get anything out except tears. It suddenly made sense why the first half of my pregnancy was so incredibly difficult with fatigue, anxiety, depression, nausea and vomiting. What we attributed to being “advanced maternal age” was really a double dose of hormones and changes in my body as two babies were growing. Immediately I was taken to that journal entry when Dorothy said “I think God has been preparing you for this.” Josh wasn’t there at that visit, so I drove the 35 minutes home crying trying to wrap my mind around what was to come. “Fear not, for I am with you.” The reassurance I needed. I got home with a stack of twin books. Trying to get Josh’s attention was slightly comical because he was playing Nintendo Mario Kart with the boys and in the middle of the racing series. I paced in the kitchen waiting to tell him. After bugging him a few more times he comes out to see me, I point to the books, he smiles and says “What?! We get a double portion!” Josh’s reaction was just what I needed.
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The second half of my pregnancy was tough. I think emotionally and mentally I struggled the most. It was incredibly hard to guard my mind from the fears and noise of the world view of twins. I initially thought I would have co-care with an OBGYN but quickly found that direction fueled my fear. Josh was wonderful at leading us and seeking where His peace was. His confidence and strength carried me throughout this pregnancy. It is hard to admit, but throughout this pregnancy I often felt burdened instead of blessed abundantly for the two babies gifted to us. When the fears came, I tried clinging to scripture, praying and getting my hands on all the positive twin birth stories I could.
As my due date was approaching (Aug 31) and I was declaring for a redemptive, supernatural childbirth after a tough pregnancy. I prayed for a full term, quick, non-complicated with less than 15 minutes between babies' childbirth. We celebrated making it to 38 weeks and each night I would “nest” re-setting our home expecting to go into labor. It was getting hard to trust in God’s appointed time and my body was getting tired. Then two days before my due date, our 3-year-old son, Othniel, fell off our rope swing and broke his femur requiring surgery and a stay at Devos Children’s Hospital. A spica cast was placed from his mid torso down the length of his left leg with only a small bend at the hip, not enough to allow for him to sit up at all. Life got suddenly more complicated. Now I asked for prayer from the warriors around me to keep the babies in for another week so we could learn how to care for Othniel at home prior to introducing not one, but two newborns. I was stressed out!!
I was a week over due. I was laughing over the tears shed about having premature babies and not making it full term. But now I was starting to have anxiety about going so far past due and fearing the unknown differences of birthing twins versus a singleton. I was scheduled for a non-stress test Tuesday the 9th and I was asking and declaring that I would have my babies before this test. Praise the Lord, early that morning in the 1AM hour I was woken by a contraction that felt “real.” It took my body a bit to get a rhythm but by 4AM I was up in the bathroom curling my hair and timing my contractions. For my last 2 births, which were at home, I was able to labor initially while worshiping to music and doing my hair, so it was part of my ritual. I texted Dorothy to let her know, but after my curls were in the contractions slowed. I decided to lay back down, but within 15 minutes I had a more intense one. Right then Othniel called from his room and when I went to get up I felt my plug release and some water leak. This was it! I called Dorothy and began pacing, overcome with fear for what was to come. This was not where I wanted my mind to be and I knew the importance of laboring in faith versus fear, so I had to decide quickly which path I would take. I pulled out my affirmations, read and re-read my scriptures - really leaning into Isaiah 26:3. I will keep my mind on you, I will have perfect peace.
The contractions were getting more intense, requiring me to squat and focus in. I would remind myself that with each surge I was closer to meeting my babies. We didn’t find out gender, so I was really looking forward to that surprise too, giving me extra motivation! It was about 7AM when my mom came to get our other kids (minus Othniel because of his cast and his limited ability to transport) and shortly after the birth team arrived. It was kind of cool to send off the kids knowing they would be coming back to meet their newest siblings later that day.
That next hour or so was kind of a blur. There was a point I couldn’t squat any more, carrying twins was definitely more challenging on my body so what worked for my last two births didn’t at a certain point during this labor. I tried to listen to my body and maintain an upright position to allow for baby A to descend into place. I felt pushy and had the birthing team come join me on the bathroom floor. I didn’t expect to birth the babies there, but that is where I felt comfortable and had been there in privacy thus far. “Finally” my pushes led to baby A’s head followed by a short pause allowing for the baby to rotate then the shoulders and body! At 9:04 AM Baby A was passed to me, and I took a peek for gender as I pulled HIM up to my chest. I laughed! More boys!! This makes 6 boys for our family with just one girl. As I mentioned I prayed specifically for 15 minutes or less between babies and it was just minutes before I felt the urge to push for baby B.
For several weeks leading up to labor both babies were head down. There was a chance baby B would flip breech and that is exactly what happened. Baby B started to come and Dorothy let us know he was en-caul. I was excited and thought someone should get a video. Once I started pushing, there was mention he was coming butt first. Dorothy was calm and talked me through when to push, allowing baby B to come out with gentle help from her, completely in his sac, not even realizing he was born yet. Dorothy removed his sac and he was handed to me at 9:12 AM, only a short 8 minutes between them! I was still holding on to his brother, then sat back and was able to hold both my boys on my chest!!! Everyone did so great. A few extra minutes were spent to help with their breathing, but both babies were healthy and strong.
I am in awe of how God established these plans, being intentional with each detail. I was expecting to have boys and already felt prepared to welcome more “wild” to our home. Our family feels complete with 7 children, the number of perfection!