Working With Me In Person
Birth is not only about making babies. Birth is about making mothers -- strong, competent, capable mothers who trust themselves and know their inner strength.
-- Barbara Katz Rothman
I have dedicated my professional career to making the lives of women during their childbearing years easier through education, empowerment and compassionate support.
My goal is to give you the education and tools to maintain your own health and your infant's health as much as possible so that you don’t need to keep seeking out care.
Chiropractic Care
Prenatal
Let’s be honest. On the road of life, pregnancy may be one of the most exciting journeys; but, like all journeys, it comes with speed bumps, sharp turns and potholes. The excitement of growing a human and bringing new life into the world can be as overwhelming as it is exciting. Each trimester brings new curiosities, concerns, and wonder. My patient centered chiropractic care is along for the ride—potholes, rainbows and all.
Chiropractic care is safe throughout all trimesters of pregnancy. Mothers are supported with a custom table and special cushion that allows you to lay face down for treatment- I often have women say it is the best part of the visit. I’ve worked collaboratively with obstetricians, perinatologists, midwives and doulas to collaboratively provide safe, gentle, care for mother and child.
Common Issues helped by chiropractic care during pregnancy:
- Neck pain
- Headaches
- Rib pain ( especially lower right sided rib pain under your breast area)
- Numb or swollen hands
- Mid back pain
- Low back spasm
- Abdominal wall separation
- Umbilical hernias
- Sciatica
- Hip pain or feelings of weakness
- Altered gait
- Pubic joint pain
- Round ligament pain ( shooting pain into the vaginal area when you go to stand up)
- Lower abdominal pain
- Pain from prior births ie c section scar tissue or pelvic pain
- Pelvic floor pain
- Vaginal and Leg varicose veins
- Inguinal hernias
- Swollen ankles
- Chest wall pain from increased breast size
Postpartum
Postpartum chiropractic care can be critical to the recovery and rehabilitation of your body after birth. Natural, cesarean or otherwise, the postpartum impacts of birth call for supportive hands-on care. Your body has grown and supported human life and then delivered it into the world.
Our culture’s hyper focus on prenatal experience can leave postpartum women confused, unsupported and lonely.
And to further emphasize this lack of compassion, women are often told that the feelings they suffer from are “normal” and will pass with time. Postpartum care deserves physical and mental support and recovery as does any other major medical occurrence. All too often women suffer physically and mentally because totally treatable postpartum medical and biomechanical issues aren’t normalized in our culture.
Common postpartum issues helped by chiropractic care:
- Pelvic pain
- Abdominal discomfort
- Numb hands
- Headaches
- Breast pain
- Mid back pain
- General weakness
- Fatigue
- Stress incontinence
- Painful scar tissue (cesarean or pelvic tearing)
- Abdominal separation (commonly called diastasic)
- Hip pain
- Low back spasm
- Your body feeling so "different" that you don't know where to start
- Discomfort during intercourse
All of these issues are COMMON, but they are not NORMAL.
Women are often resigned to the feeling they “will never be normal again”, or able to enjoy activities they once loved because of postpartum changes to their body. You may feel physically spent, emotionally exhausted, and have negative feelings towards motherhood. These feelings and so many more are perfectly normal. Receiving care where these issues are not only seen and supported but NORMALIZED, EXPLAINED and TREATED, can help prevent you from feeling there is no way out. We will customize solutions for you to grow in your confidence, feel whole again, and ready you for physical activity. It’s never too late for postpartum self-care, whether you are two weeks or ten years postpartum, we can find solutions together, for a path towards healing.
Infants
The process of being born can be challenging. Some infants have a difficult time adjusting to their new surroundings. Infants who have trouble breastfeeding, turning their heads equally in both directions, have torticollis, or are colicky, can be helped through gentle chiropractic adjustments and craniosacral therapy. These gentle techniques relieve stress and tension from their delicate nervous system providing calm and balance to their body and mental state.
Chiropractic care for infants looks remarkably different from what may be considered “traditional” chiropractic techniques. The primary treatment used for infants is craniosacral therapy, a gentle light touch form of bodywork. Adjustments are gentle and focused with no quick movements or popping noises. To most parents, it may look like I'm simply holding the infant in my lap while talking to them. While working on your child I will walk you through what I’m noticing and provide you with information and simple tips to use at home that will compliment the hands-on care your child receives.
Common issues that are helped by gentle chiropractic care:
- Tongue tie - I specialize in tongue tie diagnosis and non surgical management — see more under the lactation section
- Torticollis- an infant’s preference to look only in one direction
- Breastfeeding challenges
- Discomfort from difficult birth — ie fractured clavicle, vacuum assisted delivery or emergency cesarean birth
- Asymmetrical crawling
- Chronic ear infections
- Growing pains
- Falls on bottom
- Infant colic
- Discomfort in car seat or when lying on his or her back
- Abdominal discomfort, gas and constipation
Beyond Birth, Babies and Breasts...
Years of experience working with pregnant women has led me to a focused and deep understanding of prenatal and postpartum issues, many of which are transferable to care outside of this niche. Through this focus I’ve honed in on specific biomechanical issues found in all bodies from hypermobility syndromes to frenectomy care in adults. I often treat chronic pelvic floor pain from birth related injuries but also see this same pain due to a variety of other sources.
While I specialize in prenatal and postpartum women, I enjoy treating all people in my clinic. If something you’ve read or heard about my work resonates with you, I am honored to care for you as a client.
A complimentary consultation will help us determine if my care is right for you, or if a referral for a different specialized provider is a better fit. Whatever the cause, we’ll find the care you deserve.
Lactation Care
As a wholistic physician who is also a board certified lactation consultant, I have a slightly different approach.
Your wellbeing, sanity, and goals are my main concerns.
My practice is a safe space for formula feeding mothers and breastfeeding mothers alike. No postpartum experience is the same and each mother will receive the respect and support to make the decisions that are right for you and your child, in my care. You will be offered resources, education and tools to best support your feeding goals and as your postpartum experience unfolds. You are free from judgement and explanation in my care. You are more than your milk supply and your baby is more than a percentage on a growth chart.
No one appreciates how stressful feeding challenges are until they deal with them personally.
No only do I get it as a clinician; but as a new mother I struggled with almost every breastfeeding issue under the sun. These issues can’t be set down for a day or two to let parents catch their breath. The baby has to get fed one way or another every few hours. This is exhausting and stressful. Lactation care requires compassion and fluidity, your mental health and body are the primary factors in creating a realistic feeding plan. No matter what the issue is, I look at both the mom and baby, every visit. A fussy colicky baby may be the primary reason for your visit, but we will explore not only what could be going on in your baby; we will look at you, the mother as well.
There is so much more to breastfeeding than latch and milk supply.
As a chiropractor, I understand how the baby’s biomechanics (body positioning) and nervous system regulation are crucial to optimal breastfeeding. The field of lactation education has been slow to recognize the central role that these issues play when assessing feeding challenges. This unique perspective is my foundation as a chiropractor and when paired with gentle hands-on care, adds an extra layer of depth, understanding, and treatment options for mother and infant.
Tongue tie can be managed and treated.
Tongue tie is one of the most common areas of under diagnosis and under treatment significantly impacting breastfeeding today. It is not inappropriate advice to say “watch and wait”. However a mother experiencing pain and struggling to feed an underweight child does not have the luxury of time and needs an actionable plan ASAP. When a provider dismisses tongue-tie as a possible root cause for feeding challenges without a viable alternative or closely managed treatment plan, this is incomplete care. I’m dedicated to providing up to date, factual, evidence based information so parents can make informed decisions. Whether your baby has received surgical intervention already or you are considering it, I specialize in soft tissue work, gentle chiropractic techniques, and home care to help support feeding issues associated with tongue tie. We will keep your goals the primary focus with support through simple actionable steps and fluid treatment plan.
Tongue Tie Consults, management and non surgical treatment
Tongue tie is one of the most common areas of under diagnosis and under treatment significantly impacting breastfeeding today.
Most healthcare providers learn nothing about breastfeeding in medical school, let alone infant biomechanics and oral motor patterning. Often mom is told “maybe there is a little tie, but just give it some time and see if things improve” meanwhile, mom is thinking “My nipples are sloughing off and I would rather chew on broken glass than breastfeed again.” It is not inappropriate advise to say to watch and wait; it is just that for most women experiencing pain or struggling with an underweight baby, don’t feel like they have the luxury of time. They need an actionable plan ASAP.
If your healthcare provider is not actively seeking out and focusing their continuing education time on deepening his or her understanding of tongue tie, you may be getting outdated information. Even first glance at current recommendations can misguide providers if they do not have the time to do a deep dive into the current medical literature and recommendations.
Common issues addressed with moms:
- Low milk supply
- Persistent cracked nipples
- Breast, rib and chest wall pain
- Mastitis
- Clogged milk ducts, chronic breast congestion
- How to better read feeding cues
- Overactive let down
- Forceful letdown
- Oversupply - yes, you can have too much of a good thing
- Dysphoric milk ejection reflex - some women experience profound sadness or anxiety when their milk lets down. They feel alone and are not even aware this is treatable medical issue.
- Induced lactation
- Relactation
- Raynaud's phenomenon — painful blanching and tingling of the nipples
- Yeast issues
- Tandem nursing — whether twins or toddlers
- Custom pump at work and return to work plans for breastfeeding moms
- Different positions depending on postpartum challenges — ie how to nurse comfortably with a broken tailbone
- Breast pump selection and how to pump like a pro
- How to balance breastfeeding and bottle feeding
- Bottle feeding
- At breast/chest supplemental feeding systems
- weaning
- Lactation support after loss
Common feeding issues treated in baby:
- Gagging
- Coughing
- Choking
- Pulling off screaming
- Being too upset to latch properly
- Shallow latch
- Only nurses well in one position
- Only nurses well when sleepy or sleeping
- Excess gas
- Excess spitting up
- Clicking
- Overly blistered lips
- Tongue tie
- Issues related to preterm birth
- Transitioning from finger feeding, cup or SNS to the breast
- Help weaning off a nipple shield
- Nursing constantly
- Poor weight gain
- Yeast
- Poor motor tone
- Inability to successfully bottle feed
- Intolerance to formula
- Colic
- General dis-ease in his or her body, especially while at the breast
- Prefers to feed on one side versus the other
After dealing with tongue tie issues herself as a breastfeeding mom, Dr. Gerbi dedicated a huge portion of her clinical practice to staying current on tongue tie diagnosis and management.
I strive to provide up to date, factual, evidence based information so that parents can make the best decisions for themselves. I also specialize in soft tissue work, gentle chiropractic techniques, and home care to help support breastfeeding a tongue tied baby.
Not all tongue ties need to be released and conservative, hands on care is critical in the treatment of tongue tied babies who are having nursing challenges.
Dr. Gerbi was mentored by one of the countries top ENTs who specializes in tongue tie and still to this day works closely with him on tough cases. She also works closely with our excellent local providers when babies need a frenotomy. She will work closed with parents before the procedure so they know what to expect and then follow up with them closely afterwords with homeware and in office treatment to help have a rapid improvement in the primary feeding challenges.
Location & Hours
Dr. Gerbi’s office is located at 1029 May Street on the first floor of the Center for Vibrant Living. The Center offers on street parking and one driveway spot in the rear of the building. We ask you only park in the rear parking lot if you are very mobility challenged or have your hands full with babies and older children. Providence Memorial Hospital also generously allows clients to use the top floor of their parking garage which is located directly across from the Center for Vibrant Living on May St.
Office hours are Monday 9 am-5pm, Wednesday 9am-3pm and Thursday 9 am-5 pm.
Insurance/Complementary Consultations
At this time I am not billing insurance directly. See FAQs below for more information.
I want to make sure that you feel like you are going to get your needs met working with me. I understand that you may have more questions and am happy to schedule a complimentary consultation to address your questions before scheduling your first visit. This is not necessary, but provided as a an additional service if desired.
Rates / Visit Types
- New client visit chiropractic or lactation - $300, please select the appointment that most closely matches your condition.
- Chiropractic follow-up visit/ lactation follow up - $150
Scheduling & Cancelation Policy
Full payment is expected at the time services are rendered. Notice of cancellations will be no less than 24 hours prior to the scheduled time or client will be subject to full fee for the service scheduled. Cancellations due to COVID related exposure and/or sudden onset of COVID like symptoms may be rescheduled and payment for service transferred.
Click the button below to book a hands-on appointment or complimentary consultation.
I completely understand there are a wide variety of experiences with chiropractic care. It is a diverse profession which is amazing but also sometimes confusing for people to understand how an individual doctor may practice. Before any treatment is rendered I will explain the plan of care and why we are doing it. I will present you with a variety of options for treatment and the risks, benefits and alternatives for each. My care is gentle and problem focused, I pride myself on taking the time to make clients comfortable, whether they’ve had prior chiropractic care or not, to ensure a positive experience.
Infant chiropractic care looks nothing like adult chiropractic care - the techniques are gentle, non-force movements, with no popping, twisting or fast movements. The most common side effect for infants after receiving a treatment is the desire to sleep, similar to wanting to go home and nap after a great massage.
Yes. We will modify your care plan based on your unique issues. My decision to become a Chiropractor came after running out of treatment options for chronic pain due to a neck fracture, I was told to never see a Chiropractor but had exhausted all other non-surgical options. My first Chiropractor modified my treatment to work for and with my injury which led me to fully regain my quality of life. Having this direct personal experience I understand how fragile and vulnerable being in pain can feel, I also understand the desire for non-surgical treatment. I will spend the time necessary reviewing imaging and consulting with your other providers to build a treatment plan for you.
Yes, your body is definitely more mobile during pregnancy. However, chiropractic care during pregnancy focuses less on popping and more on balanced motion to support carrying your child. Treatment during pregnancy concentrates on flexibility and stability, often combining adjustments with stability exercises and movement modifications. And….it feels really incredible to face down on the specially designed pregnancy pillow, often my clients favorite part of the visit : )
You will need to fill out initial paperwork online before your first appointment. Please take your time and complete the paperwork as this information is important for Dr. Gerbi to tailor your visit and treatment to your specific problem. Once the doctor has reviewed your intake form, you will sit together and discuss your presenting problem as well as your past health issues in depth. After this information is gathered, the doctor will perform an examination on the area of complaint and related structures. This exam may involve some of the tests you are used to at a doctor’s office, such as blood pressure and reflexes. There are many other manual tests that will be performed to give the doctor insight into the nature of your problem. If we are focusing on infant feeding issues and lactation, I will watch the baby eat so we can observe his or latch and record how much milk he or she is transferring. At the end of the exam, the doctor will discuss the findings and talk to you about treatment options. We will explore goals of care as well as answer any questions you may have. Depending on the findings, treatment may occur on the first day. The whole process will take about an hour for your first visit.
My goal is to work together with you to provide ways for you to continue your own care outside of the clinic so you do not need to continue seeing me. Typically visits for acute issues can be resolved in 4-8 visits, and lactation support in 2-3 visits. Complex cases, such as preterm infants, injured infants, or an older infant not yet to birth weight will range anywhere from 2-6 visits. Treatments for issues requiring additional support such as bedrest, cesarean section, mastitis while having lactation issues may all require multiple weekly visits for a few weeks, 10-12 visits. Typical postpartum care is 2-4 visits postpartum and then again at 3-6 months postpartum for any underlying residual pregnancy and labor body trauma.
Every breastfeeding issue has a related biomechanical issue. If your baby was delivered sunny side up, had a stuck shoulder or required a vacuum assisted delivery, they may have tight neck or jaw muscles. This will affect the babies ability to extend his or her neck and open the jaw wide enough for a deep latch. If you notice that your baby prefers to look one direction over the other, or just seems uncomfortable in his or her body, then gentle care can help. As a chiropractor, I have a deep background in neurology, which provides a unique perspective on lactation. Feeding is based on reflexes and nerve function. It is a coordinated effort of a lot of different nerve pathways to get all of the tongue movements, breathing patterns and sucking reflexes to all come together. A lot of my advice and home care is based in infant neurology rather than trying to manipulate the mother’s breast to fit deeper into the baby's mouth. Also, as a chiropractic physician, I can order lab work for a deeper look at milk supply issues, such as hypothyroidism, and prescribe a wide variety of nutritional interventions and supplements for both mom or baby as needed.
In 15 years of practice the paper pushing has increased while reimbursements have diminished. As an international board certified lactation consultant and chiropractor, I have a multi-faceted approach to care that simply does not fit into the box of the health insurance system. As someone whose undergraduate studies focused on biomedical ethics and public health; health care equity, justice and the ability to use the insurance (you pay so much for) has been deeply important to me. However, due to the specific needs of my clients and the narrowing parameters dictated by the computer algorithms of health insurance companies, I simply can not continue to bill for service. The medicine I practice is about using all of my skills to help you as much as I can in the time we have together, regardless of the dictates of an insurance policy.
See below.
Yes! Most of the time this process is very simple and we are able to run your card just like any other card. Some FSA/HSAs require pre-approval in which case you are responsible for arranging prior to payment.
We are happy to provide flexible payment plans to help make care more affordable. There are also a limited number of partial scholarships for clients experiencing a true financial hardship. The clinic offers flexible payment plans to help make care possible. A limited number of partial scholarships for clients experiencing true financial hardships are available. Scholarship does require a direct referral from the client's primary care provider. Please inquire directly for information.
BELOW ARE THE MEASURES IMPLEMENTED TO MAKE YOUR VISITS SAFE AND COMFORTABLE.
Bring your face mask and plan to wear it
Since 6’ is not always possible in our office, please bring your mask and wear it at all times.
Keeping the treatment room clean and sanitized
The clinic takes several precautionary measures with deep cleaning and sanitization to ensure that viruses and other pathogens are not spread by contact with surfaces.
Increased air filtration/detoxification system
There is a state-of-the-art air purification system that has a deactivation rate of over 99.9% for both airborne and surface pathogens.
Cancelling your appointment
During the COVID-19 outbreak, the cancellation fee for those who need to cancel their appointment at the last minute due to illness will be waived. We ask that you please stay home if you have a fever or have had a fever within the last 24 hours, are coughing or sneezing, or showing other signs of illness. I will do my best to see that you receive the care you need as soon as possible.
What can you do to support your body’s immune response?
There are many natural ways to help your body fight infections:
- We all know the basics by now – cover coughs properly, wash hands with soap and water frequently, and especially before eating or touching your face. Wipe down communal surfaces in your home and car frequently with disinfectant or soapy water (doorknobs, remotes, steering wheels, etc.).
- Be sure you and family members stay well-hydrated and get plenty of sleep.
- Eat a healthy diet, limiting added sugars, caffeine, and alcohol, all of which weaken the immune response. Eat as many fresh foods as possible, as they are chock-full of vitamins and micro-nutrients that support your immune response.
- Specific foods that support our immune systems include ginger, garlic and lemon.
- Supplements can also help boost your immune response, including Sambucus (aka elderberry); probiotics; and vitamins A, C, and D.
Reimbursement FAQs
Dr. Gerbi does not accept health insurance, is not a Medicare provider, and does not assist in the resolution of insurance claims. You are expected to pay for your visits in full at the time of each visit via cash, check, credit card, HRA or HSA/FSA card. Our office will provide you with a receipt (called a Superbill) that you can submit to your private insurance carrier for reimbursement.
- After seeing a physician or specialist who requires payment at the time of service, you will be expected to pay by cash, personal check, or personal credit card or HSA/FSA card. A superbill is a form completed by a medical practitioner that allows you to be reimbursed directly by your health insurance company for the healthcare services for which you paid out of pocket.
- A superbill does not guarantee that an insurance provider will pay for the services provided. Each insurance plan is different. It is your responsibility to contact your insurance provider and find out exactly what will be covered.
- Note that superbills cannot be used if you have Medicare, Medicaid, or TriCare insurance. You will pay entirely out of pocket if you wish to seek care outside of these insurance systems.
The main reason Dr. Gerbi is not billing insurance is my commitment to providing excellent care. The insurance world is continuing to dictate how much care doctors can provide and is increasing the hoops providers need to jump through to get paid. While the paperwork and administrative burden has increased significantly, reimbursements have decreased significantly as well. I want to take my time with people and deliver the care that I think best meets a clients needs and not have to follow an algorithm designed by a cost cutting algorithm at an insurance company.
The only way to know for sure what your insurance company will pay is to ask them directly. Prior to starting work with a clinician who uses superbills, you should contact your insurance company to gather information. (Note: Do not bother calling and asking if you have Medicare, Medicaid, or Tricare. Superbills can NOT be submitted to these programs.)
After seeing a physician or specialist who requires payment at the time of service, you will be expected to pay by cash, personal check, or personal credit card or HSA/FSA card. A superbill is a form completed by a medical practitioner that allows you to be reimbursed directly by your health insurance company for the healthcare services for which you paid out of pocket.
A superbill does not guarantee that an insurance provider will pay for the services provided. Each insurance plan is different. It is your responsibility to contact your insurance provider and find out exactly what will be covered.
(Again, no Medicare, Medicaid, or TriCare)
- Call the customer service phone number listed on your health insurance card. Keep your insurance card handy.
- Ask, "I want to work with an out-of-network provider. How much will you cover?" The benefit is usually expressed as a percentage, such at 70% of the cost of the visit.
- Ask if you have to reach a deductible before they’ll cover out of network office visits.
- Ask, “Where should I mail or fax my superbills?” They might tell you it’s best to have the
doctor submit the superbill electronically it for you. Insist on getting a physical mailing address. Emphasize that you will be mailing in the claim yourself. (Our office will not submit claims electronically.) - Be sure that your benefits are clear to you. If anything is confusing, don’t be afraid to ask the same question two or three times. If the person you are speaking with seems confused or is clearly reading off a script, do yourself a favor and call back again and repeat the process again. It is amazing how often you will get an entirely different set of information. Make a note of the date you called, who you spoke with, any ID number they will give you to reference the call.
Should you choose to submit a superbill, you are waiving some of your rights to privacy and confidentiality. It is standard for your insurance company to request and keep a record of your diagnosis as part of your permanent medical file. This policy is no different than when a doctor bills insurance for you. If anything, we find we get fewer requests as an out-of-network clinic.
When you mail or fax in your superbills yourself, be sure to include the following:
- The superbill provided at the end of each office visit. We suggest writing something like “Paid in full at time of service – reimburse patient directly” on it, to make sure the insurance mails the check to you, and not to us.
- A photocopy of your insurance ID card, front and back
* Keep a photocopy of all the documents you send in for your records
It takes about 30 days to receive your check in the mail. If your check accidentally is sent to the office, we will sign it over to you and mail it to your address on file.
