Kelly Preston Explains Baby Benjamin's Silent Scientology Birth

Kelly Preston and John Travolta are still celebrating the November birth of their son, Benjamin, and now the proud mom is opening up about how Scientology has influenced both her birthing style and her choices as a parent.

In an interview with 'Today' host Natalie Morales, the actress discusses the "silent birth" technique commonly employed by Scientologists, a practice where "everyone attending the birth should refrain from spoken words as much as possible ... chatty doctors and nurses, shouts to 'PUSH, PUSH' and loud or laughing remarks to 'encourage' are avoided." Preston explains, "Silent birth is basically just no words as much as possible. If you need to moan, if you need to cry out ... of course that's normal. But, it's just bringing them in, in as peaceful and gentle a way as possible."

Preston credits the silent birth technique for the peaceful demeanor of her children, saying, "My kids have always been amazing. Just very calm, very peaceful, happy and I absolutely know it's very much because of that."

Preston and Travolta, who are parents to daughter Ella, 10, as well as baby Benjamin, tragically lost their 16-year-old son, Jett, in early 2009 after he suffered a fatal seizure while the family was vacationing in the Bahamas.

The actress says that the birth of Benjamin has been an integral part of helping the family through their grief, telling Morales, "It's been wonderfully healing. Of course, you know, we still -- it's still every day. But it's been, I think, a really nice gift for a lot of people throughout the world. We've gotten the most beautiful letters. And the most beautiful notes of happiness."

While Benjamin's birth posed potential risks for both mother and baby due to Preston's age, the 48-year-old actress says that her excitement outweighed her concern. "I didn't [consider this risks]. I just considered that it was difficult," she says. "We're just really happy that we're so fortunate."

Travolta echoed his wife's sentiments in an interview with Hello!, telling the magazine, "For us it's been uplifting ... He's given the house a renewed spirit and purpose."