Esty’s Story, Part 2

By MFM on October 9, 2026

In this episode of the Healthful Woman podcast, Dr. Nathan Fox speaks with Dr. Esther “Esty” Rollhaus, a reproductive psychiatrist, about her experience with postpartum psychosis. Picking up where Esty’s Story, Part 1 left off, Esty shares how her symptoms developed after her twins came home from the NICU, the treatment that helped her recover, and how she later grew her family through surrogacy.

Healthful Woman · "Esty's Story, Part 2" – With Dr. Esther Rollhaus

Esty’s Story

After seven weeks in the NICU, where her twins Kira and Nadav were monitored for episodes of bradycardia and apnea, Esty brought her babies home and celebrated with family. She had negotiated three months of leave, but much of that time had been spent at the hospital. When she returned to work, she faced a demanding schedule and a heavy patient load.

Not long after, Kira stopped breathing in Esty’s arms. An emergency room evaluation found no cause, and her daughter was expected to make a full recovery. For Esty, however, the event triggered acute trauma symptoms, insomnia, and hyperarousal, followed by depression. She was in therapy and taking a low-dose SSRI, but her symptoms continued to escalate.

Over roughly two weeks, Esty developed paranoid delusions that her babies would be taken away. She experienced hallucinations, including organ music and figures she believed were watching her. When she went to the ER, she was given Ativan and told she was anxious. About two days later, she was admitted to a psychiatric unit, where she stayed for 11 days. She described it as the “worst 11 days of my life.”

While her twins stayed with relatives and her husband, Jonathan, visited daily, Esty began an antipsychotic medication that resolved her psychosis. She then joined a day treatment program at The Motherhood Center, which included group therapy, art therapy, yoga, attachment work, DBT, CBT, and medication management. Her depression lifted about six months after the episode.

Esty missed her fourth year of residency and graduated a year later than planned. Because the relapse rate after postpartum psychosis is about 30%, she and Jonathan chose not to pursue another pregnancy. In 2021, after New York legalized paid surrogacy, they welcomed their daughter Leila Joy through a local surrogate using their own embryos.

Today, Esty uses her experience to care for her own patients. “In life, you don’t get to choose what happens to you. You get to choose what you do about it,” she said.

Understanding Postpartum Psychosis

Postpartum psychosis is far less common than postpartum depression, affecting roughly one to two of every 1,000 people who give birth. Some advocates now avoid calling it “rare,” since that label can contribute to underdiagnosis and stigma.

Recognizing the warning signs. Postpartum psychosis is a psychiatric emergency. Symptoms may include delusions, hallucinations, confusion, paranoia, rapid mood changes, and severe insomnia. Sleep deprivation and stress are common during the first few months with a newborn, but beliefs or perceptions that seem out of touch with reality are never a normal part of new parenthood. Anyone showing these symptoms should be evaluated right away.

Treatment and recovery. With prompt care, postpartum psychosis is very treatable. Treatment often includes hospitalization, antipsychotic or mood-stabilizing medications, and structured outpatient programs that support both the parent and the parent-baby bond. Because the condition can recur, those with a history of postpartum psychosis benefit from planning with their doctors before a future pregnancy. Esty reminds patients that the feeling that depression will last forever is itself a symptom. As Dr. Fox put it, “But it will get better.”

Learn More About Postpartum Psychosis

Listen to the complete episode, “Esty’s Story, Part 2,” on the Healthful Woman podcast to hear more about Esty’s recovery, her return to psychiatry, and how her experience shaped her care for others. If you missed the beginning of her story, read Esty’s Story, Part 1. For high-risk pregnancy care and support through pregnancy and the postpartum period in New York, contact Maternal Fetal Medicine Associates today by completing the online contact form.

Maternal Fetal Medicine blogs are intended for educational purposes only and do not replace certified professional care. Medical conditions vary and change frequently. Please ask your doctor any questions you may have regarding your condition to receive a proper diagnosis or risk analysis. Thank you!