The practical nurse (PN) is feeding a 2-month-old male infant with heart failure due to a ventricular septal defect (VSD). Which intervention should the PN implement?

A. Feed the infant when he cries: Crying increases oxygen demand and energy expenditure, which can be risky for an infant with heart failure. Feeding during distress may exacerbate fatigue and respiratory compromise. B. Allow infant to rest before feeding: Allowing the infant to rest conserves energy and reduces cardiac workload. Adequate rest before feeding helps the infant tolerate oral intake without becoming fatigued, supporting better nutritional intake and growth. C. Weigh before and after feeding: While weighing can help assess intake, it is not a primary intervention for managing feeding in an infant with heart failure. The focus should first be on energy conservation and safe feeding practices. D. Insert a nasogastric feeding tube: NG tube feeding is reserved for infants unable to take sufficient oral intake safely. If the infant can feed orally with appropriate rest, NG feeding is unnecessary and more invasive.