Buffalo, N.Y. – Two weeks after delivering her daughter by C‑section in January 2019, 52‑year‑old history professor Bridget María Chesterton found herself on the bathroom floor, confused and unable to recognize her newborn. The emergency room staff soon diagnosed her with postpartum psychosis, a rare but serious mental‑health emergency that affects roughly one to two women per 1,000 births.
Recognizing the warning signs
Chesterton’s husband, James Fitzsimmons, discovered her on the floor after she repeatedly asked, “What’s going on?” and made disjointed statements such as, “It’s meditation day,” despite never having meditated. Her mother, Maria Chesterton, who was staying with the couple, noted that Bridget could not recall having a baby and seemed to know the family only vaguely.
Doctors explained that postpartum psychosis can include delusions, hallucinations, paranoia, agitation and mood swings. While most women with the condition do not harm their children, severe cases can lead to self‑harm or, in rare instances, danger to the infant.
Medical treatment and family involvement
Chesterton was admitted to BryLin Hospital, a Buffalo crisis‑mental‑health facility, where she spent two weeks receiving antipsychotic medication. After a brief discharge, her symptoms returned, prompting an involuntary hospitalization for another two weeks. Throughout this period, her husband, parents, and a postpartum doula provided round‑the‑clock assistance.
“We had no choice,” her mother said. “She was in bad shape.” The family’s quick action, combined with medication, helped stabilize Chesterton’s condition. She remained on antipsychotics for about a year, and by her daughter’s first birthday, she was functioning normally.
Hope and advocacy
Chesterton credits both the medication and the unwavering support of her family for her recovery. “I was lucky my baby was in the NICU, so we had someone to care for her while I was sick,” she said. She now plans to publish a poem about her experience in a fall journal, hoping to dispel misconceptions about postpartum psychosis and encourage other families to seek help early.
“It’s something we do not talk about as a society,” Chesterton told local reporters. “I’m not embarrassed about what happened. I want people to know about it.” She urges parents to watch for signs such as disorganized thinking, memory loss, or unusual statements, and to act promptly.
Local resources
Buffalo health providers, including Dr. Emily Williams of Buffalo OB/GYN, stress that family involvement is critical during the postpartum period, even when a mother appears to be doing well. The hospital’s crisis‑care team and local postpartum doula services are available for families facing similar challenges.
Anyone experiencing suicidal thoughts, substance‑use concerns, or other mental‑health crises can call or text the three‑digit code 988 for 24‑hour, free counseling, or visit 988lifeline.org. The traditional 800‑273‑8255 toll‑free line remains active as well.
Original reporting: Brookhaven News – ABC7 New York — read the source article.
