About two weeks after giving birth, Bridget María Chesterton found herself in a dire situation. She lay curled on the bathroom floor, uttering words that seemed incoherent. Later, in the emergency room, she repeatedly questioned, “What’s going on?” She had lost touch with reality. Chesterton’s family eventually discovered she was suffering from postpartum psychosis. This severe mental health disorder gained attention in the case of Lindsay Clancy, a Massachusetts woman accused of strangling her children. A central issue is whether postpartum psychosis influenced her actions.
Experts estimate this condition affects 1 to 2 out of every 1,000 women after childbirth. While most do not harm their children, severe cases can lead to attempts of self-harm or harm to others. Chesterton acknowledges the importance of medication and strong family support in preventing a worse outcome for herself. She actively counters online suggestions dismissing postpartum psychosis as not real. By sharing her story, including a forthcoming poem in a journal, she aims to raise awareness and correct misconceptions about this misunderstood condition. She emphasizes the importance of recognizing it as a real disorder and offering hope to affected families.
A Mother’s Struggle and Determination
Chesterton, a 52-year-old history professor residing near Buffalo, New York, is candid about her experience. She and her husband, James Fitzsimmons, longed for a baby and pursued fertility treatments for years. Pregnancy came in her mid-40s, coupled with severe asthma requiring hospitalization. She delivered her daughter by C-section in January 2019, two months prematurely. The neonatal intensive care unit became the infant’s first residence. For privacy, the child’s name is withheld at the family’s request.
“It’s something that we do not talk about as a society,” said Chesterton. “I’m not embarrassed about what happened. I want people to know about it.”
Initially, Chesterton seemed fine at home. However, on the day Fitzsimmons found her on the bathroom floor, she struggled to recall basic details and made odd comments like “it’s meditation day,” despite not meditating. Concerned, Fitzsimmons contacted her mother, Maria Chesterton, who joined them at the hospital.
“She didn’t even remember having a baby,” recalled Maria Chesterton. “She knew us vaguely.”
Symptoms and Risk Factors
Symptoms of postpartum psychosis include disorganized thinking, delusions, hallucinations, paranoia, agitation, and mood changes. Postpartum depression, a more common mood disorder, affects about 1 in 7 women post-birth. Postpartum psychosis can occur in anyone after childbirth but poses higher risks for those with existing mental health conditions like bipolar disorder. Chesterton, however, did not have pre-existing conditions, as noted by Dr. Emily Williams of Buffalo OB/GYN, one of her physicians.
Chesterton was admitted to BryLin Hospital in Buffalo for crisis mental healthcare and stayed for about two weeks. Her mother, who was assisting at home, remembers visits with food and Valentine’s chocolates. Upon discharge, Chesterton initially fared well, but soon relapsed, leading to another involuntary hospital admission.
“We had no choice,” her mother explained. “She was in bad shape.” During this period, she was separated from her baby.
“I was kind of lucky that she was in the NICU,” Chesterton shared, “because we had somebody to take care of her when I was so sick.”
Recovery Through Support
Chesterton attributes her recovery to antipsychotic medication and unwavering family support. When the baby left the hospital after nearly two months, the family’s support network included her husband, parents, and a postpartum doula. This team guided her in caring for her baby and regaining parenting skills.
Williams stresses the significance of family support during the postpartum period. “The more hands on deck, the better,” she said.
Over several months, Chesterton’s fog gradually lifted. “We could see improvement in her. It was a little bit at a time,” her mother observed. “She was taking care of the baby. The glassy-eyed look was gone.” Chesterton continued antipsychotic treatment for about a year and was back to her usual self by her daughter’s first birthday.
Advice for Families
Dr. Williams commended Chesterton’s family for their prompt response once symptoms appeared. She advises against attributing signs of postpartum psychosis to sleep deprivation or minor issues. Chesterton’s mother urges families to remain vigilant and united in guiding their loved ones through such experiences. She highlights the importance of a solid support system.
“If my daughter would not have had the support system,” Maria Chesterton expressed, “I don’t know how this would have turned out.”
Note: The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation. The AP solely controls all editorial content.
For anyone in crisis, the U.S. suicide and crisis lifeline offers support at 988, accessible via call or text.