Final answer:
Multiparous women often report feeling quickening, which are fetal movements, earlier than those who are experiencing their first pregnancy. The experiencing of cramping and minor bleeding three weeks after the last menstrual period can be a sign of implantation bleeding. True labor is indicated by regular contractions that increase in frequency and intensity, not relieved by rest or hydration.
Step-by-step explanation:
Because multiparous women have experienced quickening before, they often report the sensation of fetal movements earlier than primiparous women. Quickening refers to the first time a pregnant woman feels fetal movements. For multiparous women, who are more attuned to these sensations from previous pregnancies, quickening can be identified sooner.
Regarding the explanations provided in the references, a sexually active woman experiencing a brief episode of abdominopelvic cramping and minor bleeding approximately 3 weeks after her last menstrual period might be undergoing implantation bleeding, which is a common occurrence as the embryo attaches to the uterine wall. This can sometimes be mistaken for a light period, but it is usually lighter and shorter than a regular period.
True labor is characterized by regular contractions that precede childbirth, do not subside with hydration or rest, and become more frequent and powerful over time. A woman believing she is in labor, might not be in true labor if the mucus plug is intact and the cervix is not dilated.