Final answer:
The nurse can expect the infant who was born to a person addicted to drugs to exhibit irritability as a symptom of withdrawal. While a well-developed sense of touch may suggest that a neonate could respond positively to cuddling, infants experiencing withdrawal might be less consolable due to the associated hyperactivity and disrupted sleep patterns.
Step-by-step explanation:
The nurse caring for a neonate born to a person addicted to drugs can anticipate certain withdrawal symptoms in the infant. One such symptom that the infant may exhibit is irritability. Infants experiencing withdrawal often display increased irritability due to the sudden discontinuation of the substances they were exposed to in utero. On the contrary, signs like never crying or excessive calmness, such as cuddling when held, are less likely to be associated with drug withdrawal in a newborn. Instead, these infants may be less consolable, present with a high-pitched cry, and have difficulty with feeding, which may manifest as poor sucking or feeding difficulties rather than polyphagia (excessive hunger), usually not a symptom of neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS).
Newborns have a well-developed sense of touch, so they may seem to cuddle when held, but in the context of a drug-addicted mother, this behavior can be inconsistent. Newborns in withdrawal may be hyperactive, tremulous, and have disrupted sleep patterns, making comfort through holding less effective in some cases.
Understanding and identifying these symptoms are crucial for appropriate medical care and supportive interventions to help alleviate the newborn's withdrawal symptoms and support their recovery and development.