1.Fig. [for a child] to have pains—which are attributed to growth-in the muscles and joints. The doctor said that all Mary had were growing pains and that nothing was really wrong.Not everyone has growing pains.
2.Fig. [for an organization] to have difficulties in its early stages of growth. The banker apologized for losing my check and said the bank was having growing pains.The new administration was having terrible growing pains.