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Giving birth is considered a normal event in a woman's life and one embedded in all cultures. It is generally accepted, regardless of culture or country of residence, that almost all women have some degree of anxiety during pregnancy. Reasons for anxiety may change during the pregnancy, for example, during the first trimester this may be specifically related to the ongoing pregnancy and miscarriage. During the second trimester this might be replaced by thoughts on fetal abnormality, and finally in the third trimester, anxiety regarding labour and pain. For some women, anxiety surrounding the pregnancy and birth can spiral into what has become known as fear of birth. The reasons for fear of birth are multi-factorial, encompassing psychological, social, and spiritual dimensions. Therefore, it is conceivable that birth in different cultures and countries may result in different experiences for women. This short discussion paper observes fear of birth in women from England and Kenya, asking the question: Are the differences that different after all? [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]