Postpartum psychosis survivor shares her recovery story amid Clancy case

Bridget María Chesterton, a New York history professor, shares her recovery from postpartum psychosis to raise awareness amid the Lindsay Clancy trial, which questions whether the disorder drove Clancy to kill her children. Chesterton emphasizes the condition is real and treatable. Chesterton experienced delusions and disorganized thinking two weeks after her premature daughter's birth in January 2019, requiring two hospitalizations. She credits antipsychotic medication and strong family support, including her husband, mother, and a doula, for her recovery, which was complete by her daughter's first birthday. Postpartum psychosis affects 1 to 2 per 1,000 women, with higher risk for those with bipolar disorder. While most mothers don't harm children, severe cases can lead to self-harm or harm of offspring. Chesterton's poem about her experience will be published this fall.