Emily McBride on Maternal Mental Health and the Lindsay Clancy Trial

Emily McBride, the debut novelist behind the book Queen Mab, sits down with co-hosts V.V. Ganeshananthan and Whitney Terrell to discuss her work and maternal mental health. McBride's novel centers on a protagonist named Madeleine, a 23-year-old graduate student who grapples with bonding with her newborn baby and begins to fear that the child may be a changeling.

The conversation delves into the media frenzy surrounding the Lindsay Clancy trial, who was charged with killing her three children, and how the insanity defense surrounding Clancy's case has sparked new discussions about postpartum psychosis.

McBride shares her own experiences as a mother, revealing that she also had two children when writing Queen Mab. She explores the diverse experiences among mothers, such as those who wish to have children but cannot, those who do not want children but have them, and those who don't want or can't have children. This variety of experiences is reflected in the book through the contrasting characters of Madeleine and her adoptive mother, Carol.

Carol was unable to conceive biologically and places a high value on the baby, creating a conflicting dynamic with Madeleine, who has naturally given birth to her child and struggles with motherhood.

The podcast also touches upon the historical context of mental health issues during pregnancy and postpartum, highlighting the role of folklore and literature in understanding these experiences. McBride draws inspiration from changeling stories and their portrayal of the confusion and distress new mothers may feel. She explains how Madeleine seeks solace in these stories, as they provide a narrative explanation for her feelings of dissociation and uncertainty in her new role as a mother.