Tom Cruise: Katie can use painkillers during birth

He had the birth perfectly planned. But it seems Tom Cruise may have forgotten one important factor. The mother.

His pregnant fiancée Katie Holmes is said to have been less than happy with his wish for a drug-free and scream-free delivery, as prescribed by his Scientology faith.

So the 43-year-old actor appears to have altered his ideal scenario.

Asked what Miss Holmes could have during the birth, he told US chat show host Diane Sawyer: "Whatever the woman wants. I'm not gonna tell Kate … you know, if she needs an epidural, she's gonna get her epidural.

"And there's this whole thing that if she needs medicine, she needs medicine."

He explained the idea behind a silent birth. "It's basically just respecting the mother and helping to be quiet. Not the mother.

"The mother makes as much noise … and people … you know, she's going through it. She does what she's gotta do. OK?"

Cruise has made no secret of his scepticism about conventional medicine.

He told GQ magazine: "I've always found the, 'If it makes me feel better, it's OK' rationale a little suspect."

In the past he has criticised antidepressants, questioning Brooke Shields's revelation that she took them to help her get over post-natal depression.

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