A woman in labor receives meperidine (Demerol) for pain. The nurse caring for the infant will observe the infant closely for:

Choice A reason: Meperidine, an opioid, crosses the placenta, risking neonatal respiratory depression. Monitoring breathing is critical post-delivery, making this the correct observation for the infant. Choice B reason: Hypothyroidism is not associated with meperidine exposure. Opioids primarily affect respiration, so this is irrelevant and incorrect for the expected effect. Choice C reason: Tremors and hyperreflexia are not typical meperidine effects in newborns; respiratory depression is the primary concern. This is incorrect for the nurse’s focus. Choice D reason: Congenital anomalies result from chronic exposure, not acute labor analgesia. Meperidine’s immediate risk is respiratory, so this is incorrect for monitoring.