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September 2, 2026 / 3:51 PM EDT
/ CBS News
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The trial of Lindsay Clancy over the killings of her three young children is driving conversations outside the courtroom about postpartum healthcare — and gaps in the system. Clancy's defense says she killed her three children after suffering from postpartum psychosis, a severe condition affecting someone's sense of reality, while the prosecution argued she planned the killings and knew what she was doing was wrong. Clancy's legal team says she tried to get help but was overmedicated and didn't get the care she needed. Postpartum psychosis is estimated to affect about one in 1,000 people after childbirth, and the case is resonating with moms across the country — bringing into focus the spectrum of perinatal mood and anxiety disorders and the lack of resources for many women. Perinatal mood and anxiety disorders are mental health conditions, including depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder and postpartum psychosis, happening during pregnancy and up to a year after giving birth. Overall, they are estimated to affect one in every five to seven women.Moms have traditionally had a postpartum appointment with an OB-GYN around six weeks after giving birth, where they receive a physical checkup and are screened for mental health issues. But following that visit, there isn't a standard appointment schedule."We can't just clear a mom at six weeks postpartum and expect her to figure out the rest of what's going on for the next 12 months," said Nicole Kumi, a maternal wellness advocate and founder of The Whole Mom, an organization focusing on perinatal transitional coaching.
