Two-time Oscar winning actress, Emma Thompson is very proud of ?giving birth without painkillers?. In fact she sees it as her biggest achievement in life. She says she is more proud of giving birth naturally than she is about her successful career. According to reports online, the British actress resorted to in vitro fertilization to get pregnant. Her daughter, Gaia is now nine.

Emma Thompson, the reports claim, regrets only that she wasn?t able to have more children. She also informally adopted a then 16-year-old Rwandan refugee, Tindyebwa Agaba in 2003. Since this year, Agaba is facing the threat of deportation from the UK since his 5-year permit to remain in the country while he seeks asylum has ran out. She admits to still having thoughts about expanding her family.

Many women are now refusing drugs and other pain reducing methods in favor of natural births. Non-traditional birthing methods are also gaining popularity as well. Lamaze for example is said to lessen the pain experienced during labor. The Bradley method is also popular, and is said to help lessen birthing pains with a series of relaxation techniques.

The important thing to remember is that whether to opt for natural birth or use epidurals is a personal decision. No woman who opts for a spinal tap or pain reducing drugs should feel like less of a woman. Ultimately, what is important is that the entire birthing process goes well, and that the baby is ok. Whichever birthing method a woman decides on, she should be guided by her doctor, or an experienced midwife.

Ms. Thompson is married to actor, Greg Wise. American audiences may recognize her from Love Actually and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. She has also appeared in Sense and Sensibility, and made an uncredited appearance in I am Legend. She won a best actress Oscar for Howard?s End, and one for writing the screenplay for Sense and Sensibility.