Postpartum psychosis survivor shares her recovery story

A mother who experienced postpartum psychosis shares her story to raise awareness amid the Lindsay Clancy trial, where the disorder is a key defense question. The condition affects 1 to 2 out of 1,000 women after delivery. Bridget María Chesterton, a 52-year-old history professor, was hospitalized twice after giving birth in 2019 due to severe symptoms including disorganized thinking and memory loss. She credits antipsychotic medication and strong family support for her recovery, which took about a year. Chesterton wants to dispel misconceptions about the disorder, which can cause hallucinations and paranoia, and is more common in women with bipolar disorder. She emphasizes that most mothers with postpartum psychosis do not harm their children, and families should act quickly if symptoms appear.