Recently on The Ellen Degeneres Show, Amy Brenneman shared an unusual labor story about the birth of her son, Bodie. The talk show host, Ellen Degeneres, warmly welcomed Brenneman back, remarking on her previous pregnancy. Brenneman proudly introduced her four-month-old son to the audience, showing off his passport photo, which she held him up for while the picture was taken.
Degeneres asked about Bodie’s name, referencing a previous audience poll which had suggested the name Vince. Brenneman explained that she and her husband couldn’t agree on names, with her husband suggesting “seventh grade stoner names” like Rory and Bowden. To find a more meaningful name, Brenneman turned to her study of Buddhism and found that “bodh,” meaning “Enlightenment” when spelled “b o DH I,” resonated with her. Thus, Bodie became her son’s chosen name.
Moving onto her labor experience, Brenneman revealed that Bodie’s delivery was different from her first child, Charlotte. Desperate to induce labor as her due date passed, she tried various methods suggested by the “hippies” in her life, including acupuncture and drinking castor oil. These unconventional techniques eventually worked, but by the time Brenneman reached the hospital, she was already fully dilated. She missed the opportunity for pain relief and ended up delivering Bodie without drugs.
Degeneres was fascinated by the use of castor oil, jokingly suggesting it made the baby “slide right out.” Brenneman laughed and admitted that she didn’t know how it worked but followed the advice of her hippie friend anyway. During the delivery, she found herself in a “delicious morphine haze,” as she had a cesarean section. Despite the unique circumstances, she expressed that it was a positive experience.
Degeneres also commended Brenneman’s four-year-old daughter, Charlotte, on being accepting and loving towards her baby brother. Brenneman shared a cute photo of the siblings, emphasizing Charlotte’s initial excitement. However, she revealed that Charlotte went through a rough patch around six weeks after Bodie’s birth, which is a common occurrence when older siblings adjust to the new addition. Brenneman likened her daughter’s experience to watching a computer reboot before eventually settling into her new role as a big sister.
After sharing her labor story, Brenneman shifted the conversation to promote her upcoming movie, “Nine Lives.” She described it as a film she enjoyed working on, noting its great cast and unique shooting style. Unfortunately, there was no specific information available about the clip shown during the interview.
Fans of Amy Brenneman and talk show viewers were undoubtedly entertained by her lively account of Bodie’s birth and her daughter’s transition into big sisterhood. With her son’s unique name tied to Enlightenment and her unconventional labor experience, Brenneman continues to provide captivating stories both on and off the screen. Don’t miss Amy Brenneman‘s latest project, “Nine Lives,” set to hit theaters nationwide on October 28th.
Originally aired on October 17, 2015
