In the small town of Grand Island, New York, Bridget María Chesterton found herself at the center of a struggle she never anticipated. Only two weeks after the joy of welcoming a new life, she was found on the bathroom floor, trapped in a haze of confusion and fear. Her words were incoherent, and in the blink of an eye, she was in the emergency room, endlessly asking, “What’s going on?” Her reality had slipped away.
Chesterton’s family received a diagnosis that shed light on her unraveling mental state: postpartum psychosis. This severe condition, now gaining attention due to the high-profile case of Lindsay Clancy, a Massachusetts woman facing trial for the tragic loss of her three children, raises critical questions. Did postpartum psychosis play a role in Clancy’s actions?
While postpartum psychosis is rarer than its more familiar counterpart, postpartum depression, researchers estimate it affects 1 to 2 out of every 1,000 new mothers. Though many women experiencing this mental health crisis do not pose a danger, severe cases may lead to attempts of harm against themselves or their children.
Reflecting on her ordeal, Chesterton credits her recovery to a combination of timely medication and unwavering family support. “It could have gone sideways,” she admitted, acknowledging the precariousness of her path to wellness.
As public discourse swirls around the Clancy case, Chesterton finds herself frustrated by the skepticism and dismissals she often encounters online regarding postpartum psychosis. Determined to change perceptions, she speaks out, hoping her story can educate and support others. In an effort to further illuminate this misunderstood condition, her poignant poem capturing the depths of her experience is slated for publication this fall. Her mission is clear: to correct misconceptions and offer a beacon of hope to those navigating similar shadows.
“It’s something that we do not talk about as a society,” said Chesterton, a 52-year-old history professor who lives outside Buffalo, New York. “I’m not embarrassed about what happened. I want people to know about it.”
A mom was fine at first, then ‘in bad shape’
Chesterton and her husband James Fitzsimmons wanted a baby desperately and underwent fertility treatment for years. She finally got pregnant in her mid-40s and had severe asthma during the pregnancy that put her in the hospital. She gave birth to her daughter by C-section in January 2019, about two months early.
“Everything about bringing her into the world was awful,” Chesterton said. “It was the longest seven months of my life.”
Just after the birth, the baby was hurried off to the neonatal intensive care unit, where she spent her first weeks of life. To protect the child’s privacy, The Associated Press is withholding her name at the family’s request.
If you are experiencing suicidal, substance use or other mental health crises please call or text the new three digit code at 988. You will reach a trained crisis counselor for free, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. You can also go to 988lifeline.org or dial the current toll free number 800-273-8255
Postpartum psychosis can happen to anyone after giving birth, but the chances are higher for people with certain mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder. Chesterton didn't have such conditions, said Dr. Emily Williams of Buffalo OB/GYN, one of her doctors.
Chesterton was transferred to BryLin Hospital in Buffalo, which provides crisis mental healthcare, and spent about two weeks there. Her mom, who was staying at the couple's house to help out, remembers visiting her with food and Valentine's Day chocolates.
When she was released, she did OK for a few days, her mom remembers, then "just lost it." She stared blankly ahead, not knowing where she was or what was happening. But she did manage to aggressively express that she didn't want to go back to the same place she'd just left, so she was institutionalized involuntarily.
"We had no choice," her mother said. "She was in bad shape."
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She stayed for another two weeks - apart from her baby.
"I was kind of lucky that she was in the NICU," Chesterton said, "because we had somebody to take care of her when I was so sick."
Medication and family support help a mom recover
Chesterton believes antipsychotic drugs ultimately brought her back to reality. But just as essential was the support of her family. When the baby came home after nearly two months at the hospital, her team of helpers included her husband, mom, dad and a postpartum doula.
"She helped me learn how to take care of the baby, remember her - you know, to become a parent again," Chesterton said, adding that she knows how lucky she is that her family had the resources to provide such care.
Williams, the doctor, said family support is crucial in the postpartum period even if everything is going well. "The more hands on deck, the better," she said.
Over the next several months, it was as if a fog slowly lifted.
"We could see improvement in her. It was a little bit at a time," her mother said. "She was taking care of the baby. The glassy-eyed look was gone."
Chesterton stayed on antipsychotics for about a year. By her daughter's first birthday party, she was back to normal.
Doctor encourages families to be on alert for signs of trouble
Williams said Chesterton's family did the right thing when they took quick action after symptoms arose. Sometimes, the doctor said, people may deny that something so serious could be wrong with a loved one's mental health and attribute signs of postpartum psychosis to things like needing more sleep.
Chesterton's mother advised other families to be vigilant for signs of the illness, then come together to shepherd loved ones through it.
"If my daughter would not have had the support system," she said, "I don't know how this would have turned out."
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