Pronunciation: [bˈɜːθ pˈaŋ] (IPA) 
The phrase "birth pang" is spelled with the letters b-i-r-t-h followed by p-a-n-g, meaning the intense and sharp pain experienced during childbirth. The phonetic transcription of this word in IPA is /bɜrθ pæŋ/, where the sound /θ/ represents the voiceless dental fricative, and the symbol /æ/ represents the short "a" vowel sound. The word "pang" is pronounced with a gutteral /ŋ/ sound at the end, which is a velar nasal consonant.
Birth pang refers to the intense and often painful contractions experienced by a woman during childbirth. It is a term primarily used in a metaphorical sense to describe the struggles, difficulties, or intense efforts associated with the birth or creation of something new or significant.
In the literal sense, birth pangs are the rhythmic contractions of the uterine muscles that occur during labor, facilitating the progress of the fetus through the birth canal. These contractions typically intensify in frequency and strength as labor progresses, causing substantial pain and discomfort for the mother. They are a necessary and natural part of the birthing process, signaling that the baby's arrival is imminent.
Metaphorically, birth pangs describe the challenging or tumultuous moments experienced during the creation or emergence of something significant. It implies that just as childbirth is marked by strenuous effort and often intense pain before the joy of bringing a new life into the world, the process of birthing or creating something new in various areas of life can also be arduous. The term highlights the notion that significant achievements or changes often require enduring hardships, struggles, or discomfort before reaching a desirable outcome.
Birth pangs indicate the transitional and transformative nature of the process, suggesting that the challenges faced are essential for growth, as they pave the way for positive transformation and new beginnings. While birth pangs are often associated with physical birth, the term is commonly employed in a figurative sense, capturing the profound emotional, intellectual, or creative challenges one may experience while bringing forth something new into the world.
The term "birth pang" is derived from the noun "birth" and the noun "pang".
The noun "birth" has its roots in Old English "byrþ" or "byrð", which refers to the act, process, or instance of being born. It comes from the Proto-Germanic *burdiz, meaning "birth" or "childbirth". The word "birth" has remained relatively unchanged throughout its history in the English language.
The noun "pang" can be traced back to Middle English "pa(i)ng" or "paunge", borrowed from Old English "panc", which originally meant "pain" or "distress". It can be related to the Old Norse word "pangr", meaning "sudden pain" or "cramp". Over time, "pang" evolved to refer specifically to sharp, sudden, or intense sensations of pain or distress.
