How do nurses assess the effectiveness of a newborn's feeding?

Monitoring weight gain and stool output is a critical method for assessing the effectiveness of a newborn's feeding. Weight gain provides quantifiable data that indicates whether the infant is receiving sufficient nutrition. In the early days of life, it is expected for newborns to lose a small percentage of their birth weight, but consistent weight gain is a strong indicator that the infant is feeding well.

Stool output, on the other hand, informs nurses about the infant's digestion and nutrition absorption. Adequate stooling usually reflects that the feeding is effective, as a well-nourished infant typically has regular bowel movements that change in color and consistency as they transition from meconium to transitional stools and then to mature stools.

Other assessment methods may offer supportive information, but weight gain and stool output are the most objective and relevant indicators of feeding effectiveness. For instance, while observing facial expressions or tracking alertness can provide some insight into the infant's well-being immediately after feeding, they don't specifically measure the nutritional intake or digestive success as effectively as weight and stool data do.