Meaning: afterpains 
n.
pains felt by a woman after her baby is born; associated with contractions of the uterus
pains Idiom, Proverb
take pains
take great pains
Idiom(s): take (great) pains (to do sth)Theme: TRYING
to make a great effort to do something.
• Tom took pains to decorate the room exactly right.
• We took pains to get there on time.
have growing pains
Idiom(s): have growing painsTheme: DIFFICULTY
[for an organization] to have difficulties in its growth.
• The banker apologized for losing my check and said the bank was having growing pains.
• Governments have terrible growing pains.
at pains|pain|pains
adj. phr. Making a special effort. At pains to make a good impression, she was prompt for her appointment.be at pains|at pains|pain|pains
v. phr. To be extremely desirous to do something; to take the trouble to do something. The captain was at pains to see that everybody got safely into the lifeboats.growing pains|grow|growing|pain|pains
n. 1. Pains in children's legs supposed to be caused by changes in their bodies and feelings as they grow. The little girl's legs hurt, and her mother told her she had growing pains. 2. informal Troubles when something new is beginning or growing. The factory has growing pains.take pains|pains|take
v. phr. To do something very carefully and thoroughly. She had taken pains to see that her guests had everything that they could possibly want. She always takes pains with her appearance.at pains, be at
at pains, be atAlso, take pains. Make a special effort or take extra trouble to do something. For example, Bob was at pains to make a good first impression and wore his best suit, or Mary took pains to make sure her speech would interest the audience. [First half of 1500s]
for one's pains
for one's painsIn return for the trouble one has taken, as in And all he got for his pains was a failing grade. This expression is nearly always used ironically to indicate that the return was not appropriate to the effort made. [First half of 1500s]
growing pains
growing painsProblems that arise in beginning or enlarging an enterprise, as in The company is undergoing growing pains but should be viable by next year. This expression, which dates from the late 1800s, originally referred to the joint and limb aches experienced by youngsters who are growing rapidly. By about 1900 it was being used figuratively.
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Dictionary of similar words, Different wording, Synonyms, Idioms for Idiom, Proverb pains
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