LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes shocked their fans worldwide when the news of their romance came out in April 2005. The love birds were engaged in June of that same year.
That October, it was revealed that Katie and Tom were expecting a child. 'The Secret: Dare to Dream' star ultimately welcomed Suri Cruise in April 2006. At the time, there was a wild rumor going around that Tom was forced to clarify when Katie was due to give birth to Suri, who is now 17 years old.
What was the rumor?
Several unfounded stories were circulating regarding the baby's birth even before Suri was born. People published a report about Holmes' expected behavior during labor the same month it was revealed she was pregnant. "In the tradition of fellow Scientologists Leah Remini and Kelly Preston, Katie Holmes is expected to attempt a Scientology laboring and birth experience when she has Tom Cruise’s baby next spring," the story read. "As they do with most everything, Scientologists have guidelines for the process, which includes birth without meds (a fairly normal birth choice for some women anyway). However, here’s the kicker – mothers are to attempt a silent birth, because they believe that it is traumatic for the baby to hear their mother cry or groan in pain while they are being born."
However, reports about the intended "silent birth" were only received with a pinch of salt. Additionally, there was an allegation that Tom had a unique pacifier made for Katie to suck on during labor in order to guarantee her full silence throughout the delivery.
Tom Cruise's clarification
Cruise addressed the claims in an interview with Diane Sawyer on 'Primetime'. He told Sawyer that he and Holmes were content and in love and that they were eager to get married after the baby was born. "We were just talking about it last night," Cruise stated. "She has this beautiful belly, this glowing woman....We were walking up to bed, and I just, I can't wait till we get married. I can't wait till I can call and say, 'Hey, you know, put my wife on the phone.'" While the 43-year-old actor was familiar with the rumors, he did not let them affect him. "We're just a couple that are gonna have a baby and very excited about it, about this new life," Cruise mentioned.
Asserting the rumors are entirely untrue, the action hero said, "It's basically just respecting the mother, you know, and helping to be quiet -- not the mother. The mother makes as much noise ... you know, she's going through it. But why have other people make noise? You know, you want that area very calm and to make it very special."
What is silent birth?
Silent birth, also known as quiet birth, is a method of childbirth suggested by L Ron Hubbard and promoted by Scientologists in which "everyone attending the birth should refrain from spoken words as much as possible" and where "chatty doctors and nurses, shouts to 'PUSH, PUSH,' and loud or laughing remarks to 'encourage' are avoided." It is based on the idea that expectant mothers deserve to be treated with the greatest respect and care, as per Wikipedia.
Other Scientologists who chose silent birth
'King of Queens' star Leah Remini and Kelly Preston, who are both Scientologists, are reported to have used the silent birth method. While Kelly Preston spoke to Redbook Magazine about the birth of daughter Ella at home during a 13-hour labor, Leah Remini attempted to give birth to daughter Sofia while remaining mute on the vH1 show.
