If an infant shows neonatal abstinence syndrome symptoms, what should be assessed in their care?

When assessing an infant showing symptoms of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS), monitoring the infant's weight gain is crucial. Babies experiencing NAS may have difficulty feeding effectively due to withdrawal symptoms, which can lead to inadequate calorie intake. As a consequence, their weight gain can be negatively affected. Consistent evaluation of weight gain is essential to ensure that the infant is receiving adequate nutrition and to assess the overall effectiveness of interventions implemented to manage their condition.

In addition, weight gain serves as an important indicator of the infant's health status and response to treatment. If an infant with NAS experiences poor weight gain, it may prompt further investigation into feeding methods, potential supplementation, or adjustments in treatment strategies to better address the infant's needs. Therefore, monitoring weight gain is critical in providing appropriate and timely care for infants with NAS symptoms.