Working with Dr. Michelle Gerbi

in Person

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.

Click Here to Book a Hands-On Appointment or Complimentary Consultation

"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

Services Offered

CHIROPRACTIC →
LACTATION →
SCHEDULING & FEES →
FAQs →

Services Offered

CHIROPRACTIC →
LACTATION →
SCHEDULING & FEES →
FAQs →

Chiropractic

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 Issues helped by Chiropractic Care during Postpartum:
  •  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 diastasis recti) 
  • 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 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

Chiropractic Care 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.

Click Here to Book a Hands-On Appointment or Complimentary Consultation

Lactation

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 Babies:
  • 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. 

She strives to provide up to date, factual, evidence based information so that parents can make the best decisions for themselves. She also specializes 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. 

Scheduling and Fees

Click Here to Book a Hands-On Appointment or Complimentary Consultation
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 9am-3pm, Wednesday 9am-3pm and Thursday 9am-3pm.

 

Complementary Consultations / Insurance

At this time, Dr. Gerbi is not billing insurance directly. See FAQs below for more information.

Dr. Gerbi wants to make sure that you feel like you are going to get your needs met working with her.  She understands that you may have more questions and is 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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.