after-pains
Definition
Noun (plural in form but often used with a singular verb):
- Postpartum uterine contractions: "after-pains" refer to the cramping pain experienced in the uterus after childbirth, caused by the uterus contracting to return to its pre-pregnancy size and to control bleeding.
Usage Examples
- (Uterine cramping following delivery.)
- (Postpartum contractions varying in severity.)
Advanced Usage
"to have after-pains": to suffer from these contractions.
- She had severe after-pains that required mild pain relief. (She experienced strong postpartum uterine cramps.)
"after-pains during nursing": the pain often intensifies when breastfeeding due to the release of oxytocin.
- Breastfeeding triggered stronger after-pains, which is actually a sign that the uterus is contracting well. (The pain linked to nursing is a normal physiological process.)
Variants and Related Words
Afterbirth (n): the placenta and fetal membranes expelled after childbirth (a related term, but not the same as after-pains).
- The afterbirth was delivered naturally after the baby. (The placenta and membranes were expelled.)
Postpartum (adj): relating to the period after childbirth.
- She attended postpartum check-ups to monitor her recovery. (Medical follow-ups after giving birth.)
Synonyms
- Postpartum cramps: uterine contractions after delivery.
- Uterine after-contractions: medical term for the same phenomenon.
Related Idioms
- No direct idioms: "after-pains" is a specific medical term without common idiomatic usage.
Phrasal Verbs
- No applicable phrasal verbs: The term is a noun and does not combine with verbs to form phrasal verbs.