The case of Lindsay Clancy, a Massachusetts woman on trial for allegedly strangling her three children, has brought postpartum psychosis into public discussion. For Bridget María Chesterton, a history professor outside Buffalo, New York, the case highlights a condition she experienced firsthand and one she is speaking out about to combat misconceptions and offer hope.
About two weeks after giving birth, Chesterton found herself disoriented and disconnected from reality, repeating nonsensical phrases and struggling to recognize familiar people. This marked the onset of postpartum psychosis, a severe mental health emergency that affects an estimated 1 to 2 out of every 1,000 women after delivery. While less common than postpartum depression, it can present with symptoms including disorganized thinking, delusions, hallucinations, paranoia, agitation, and mood changes.
Chesterton's journey to motherhood was already challenging, marked by years of fertility treatments and a high-risk pregnancy complicated by severe asthma. Her daughter was born prematurely via C-section in January 2019 and spent her first weeks in the neonatal intensive care unit.
After returning home, Chesterton's condition rapidly deteriorated. Her family noted her inability to recall basic life details and her strange comments. She was eventually admitted to BryLin Hospital, a crisis mental healthcare facility, where she spent two weeks. A subsequent relapse led to an involuntary commitment for another two weeks.
"She didn’t even remember having a baby," her mother, Maria Chesterton, recalled. "She knew us vaguely."
Dr. Emily Williams, one of Chesterton's physicians, noted that while postpartum psychosis can occur in anyone, the risk is higher for individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions like bipolar disorder. However, Chesterton had no such history.
Antipsychotic medication was instrumental in helping Chesterton regain her grasp on reality. Equally crucial was the unwavering support of her family, including her husband, James Fitzsimmons, and her parents. Upon the baby's release from the NICU, a support team, including a postpartum doula, assisted Chesterton in navigating early parenthood.
"She helped me learn how to take care of the baby, remember her — you know, to become a parent again," Chesterton said, acknowledging the privilege of having such resources.
Williams emphasized that robust family support is vital during the postpartum period, regardless of whether a mother is experiencing mental health challenges. "The more hands on deck, the better," she stated.
Over the following months, Chesterton gradually emerged from what she described as a fog. By her daughter's first birthday, she had returned to her baseline and discontinued antipsychotic medication after about a year.
Chesterton's mother urged vigilance among families, advising them to watch for signs of postpartum psychosis and to rally support for loved ones experiencing it. She believes that without the strong support system, her daughter's outcome could have been drastically different. Chesterton herself is committed to raising public awareness, aiming to dispel myths surrounding postpartum psychosis and reassure families that recovery is possible.