Definition

Noun: 1. The pains experienced during childbirth: The rhythmic, often intense, contractions of the uterus that occur during labor to facilitate the delivery of a baby. 2. (Figurative) The difficulties or turmoil accompanying the start of something new: The struggles, challenges, or initial problems associated with the creation or emergence of a new idea, project, organization, or era.

Usage Examples

• Literal (Medical/Childbirth):
  • The midwife helped her manage the birth pangs.
  • The intensity of the birth pangs increased as labor progressed.
• Figurative (Metaphorical):
  • The new company experienced the typical birth pangs of a startup, including funding issues and technical glitches.
  • The political reform went through significant birth pangs before it was finally accepted by the public.

Advanced Usage

• "the birth pangs of (something)": A common figurative phrase used to describe the initial struggles of a new development.
  • The novel captures the birth pangs of a new nation.
  • We are currently witnessing the birth pangs of a technological revolution.

Variants and Related Words

• Labor pains (n): A more common, direct synonym for the physical pains of childbirth.
• Growing pains (n): Figurative term for problems experienced in the early stages of development or expansion. (Note: This is a related but distinct concept, often implying challenges during growth rather than initial creation.)

Synonyms

• Labor pains (for the literal meaning)
• Teething troubles (for the figurative meaning, specifically initial minor problems)
• Initial struggles
• Formative difficulties

Related Idioms and Phrases

• "To be in the throes of": To be in the middle of a difficult or painful process, often used similarly to experiencing birth pangs.
  • The industry is in the throes of a major transformation.
• "A difficult birth": Used figuratively to describe something that was hard to establish or launch.
  • The peace treaty had a difficult birth, with many rounds of failed negotiations.

Noun

1. a regularly recurrent spasm of pain that is characteristic of childbirth