Mother shares her postpartum psychosis recovery story as Clancy trial raises awareness

A mother who experienced postpartum psychosis is sharing her story to raise awareness, as the disorder gains attention from the trial of Lindsay Clancy, a Massachusetts woman accused of strangling her three children. Bridget María Chesterton, 52, hopes to dispel misconceptions about the condition. Chesterton developed the disorder about two weeks after giving birth in January 2019, experiencing disorganized thinking and delusions. She was hospitalized twice, including once involuntarily, and recovered with antipsychotic medication and extensive family support. Researchers estimate postpartum psychosis affects 1 to 2 out of 1,000 women after delivery. Doctors emphasize that family support and quick action are crucial for recovery, as severe cases may lead mothers to harm themselves or their children. Chesterton, who stayed on medication for about a year, says she is not embarrassed and wants families to know there is hope.