Experience Birth Your Way: The Perham Health Midwife Program

At Perham Health, midwife services provide women with a choice for their pregnancy and childbirth experience. Certified Nurse-Midwife Tonya Diggins offers personalized, compassionate care that focuses on supporting women throughout pregnancy, labor, birth, and postpartum recovery.

Meet Tonya: Midwife, Educator, Advocate

Tonya’s path to midwifery started as a rural nurse, caring for patients from emergency services to labor and delivery. She earned both her Family Nurse Practitioner degree and a post-master’s certificate in Nurse Midwifery from the University of Minnesota. This dual license allows her not only to care for moms but also to follow newborns in those early days after birth.

“Women are the nucleus of a family. I love empowering women, teaching them how to care for themselves and their families. The opportunity to be involved in bringing their new family member into the world and watching that transition of a family developing is truly a privilege,” states Tonya.

Why Choose a Midwife?

People often ask Tonya how midwifery differs from traditional pregnancy care. While both prioritize safety and health, midwifery emphasizes being “with women”—the very meaning of the word “midwife.” Tonya explains, “We like to support women and give them care, make them feel safe, and try to provide the best opportunity for the birth plan they want, as long as we have a healthy mom and a healthy baby in a safe environment.”

Midwives offer:

• A natural, holistic approach to pregnancy and birth
• Individualized, attentive care during pregnancy, labor, delivery, and postpartum
• A focus on low-intervention, natural birth options when medically appropriate
• Expertise in medication-free labor support tools
• Access to a variety of pain medication options in labor, if desired
• Water birth option
• Education and support for new parents

The Perham Health Difference: Moms Share Their Stories

Tonya Diggins, CNP, Certified Nurse Midwife, with newborn, Beau

Cortney’s Story

Cortney Hunt, a mother of five from Detroit Lakes, came to Perham Health after hearing about Tonya from her sister. After difficult experiences with her first two births, she was searching for something different, something more natural. Cortney explains, “My sister enjoyed her experience and said Tonya was phenomenal and super supportive.”

Cortney continues, “Tonya comes in the room and she is super excited and positive. She listens. She is sincere and real and upfront.”

Cortney was induced in the morning, and Tonya checked on her throughout the morning as she labored in the water birth tub. When baby Beau decided to come, it was fast. “I felt the need to push, and then my water broke. Tonya had to run from the clinic, and he was born nine minutes later,” recalls Cortney

Cortney dealt with some mental health issues after previous deliveries. “That’s something Tonya was proactive with, too… She said, ‘We’re not going to ignore it and push it off until your baby comes. We’re going to be proactive, so when your baby comes, you can be in good standing to take care of him and all your kids.”

Sophie’s Story:

Sophie and her newborn

Sophie Keranen, a first-time mom from Wolf Lake, wanted to have a waterbirth and a medication-free labor. Encouraged by friends and family, she chose Tonya for her prenatal care and Perham Health because of the waterbirth option.

She appreciated Tonya’s respect for her wishes and her positive and supportive personality. “She was an excellent listener, and if I had any concerns or questions, she never made me feel dumb. She respected me wanting to go without pain meds, and she didn’t push anything on me.”

Sophie found the waterbirth exceeded her expectations: “It helped with pain. Once I got in the water, it just lifted everything. It was better than what I expected.” She also valued the calming waterbirth environment. “They dim the lights and have spa music playing, and so it’s just a very relaxing environment.”

Cortney’s Waterbirth

Waterbirth: Comfort and Calm

Waterbirth can be an excellent option for pain relief, comfort, and relaxation during labor and even for delivery in low-risk pregnancies. Perham Health is one of the few hospitals in the area offering water birth as an option, which is also available through family medicine doctors, as well as Tonya.

Women can choose whether to use the tub only for labor or also for delivery if it’s safe for them and the baby.

“I love water birth options for women. The warm water helps with pain management, makes movement easier, and provides a calming atmosphere. Some moms didn’t even plan on a water birth but were surprised by how wonderful it was once they got in,” said Tonya.

Safety and Teamwork

While Perham Health’s midwife program emphasizes natural and personalized care, families have peace of mind knowing they’re delivering in a hospital with immediate access to medical support if needed. Tonya works closely with family medicine providers, OB/GYNs, and anesthesia services. Everyone is ready to step in for extra care if circumstances change. “The best part about a small town is that everybody will come when you ask. They never hesitate to come in when I call.”

Tonya reflects, “The goal is a healthy mom and a healthy baby in a safe environment. I feel very privileged that women trust their care to me, not only for themselves but also for their babies and their families.”