Tom Cruise has given pregnant Katie Holmes an iPod packed with her fave tunes - to help her keep schtum during the forthcoming birth of their child, UK tabloid The Sun reports.

The thoughtful gift comes after the delivery to the couple's home of six-foot "birthing boards" reminding Holmes to keep her trap shut during the delivery. The Church of Scientology - of which Cruise is a member - believes that mum screaming during the sprog-dropping process is traumatic to the infant. Accordingly, one of the boards reads: "Be silent and make all physical movements slow and understandable."

A source close to the couple told the paper: "Tom gave Katie an iPod loaded with 300 of her favourite songs. He wants her to listen to calming music — but to use earphones so there's no noise in the delivery room." ®