What withdrawal symptoms may a newborn exhibit if their mother is an alcoholic?

Newborns exposed to alcohol in utero may exhibit a range of withdrawal symptoms known as Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome (NAS). Among these symptoms, jitteriness, irritability, increased muscle tone, and heightened reflex responses are common indicators of withdrawal. The effects of alcohol can disturb the central nervous system of the newborn, causing them to present as overstimulated, easily agitated, and with a notable increase in their muscle tone and reflexive actions.

These symptoms manifest as a response to the sudden cessation of alcohol exposure, which the infant has adapted to during gestation. Therefore, the presence of jitteriness, irritability, and increased tone reflects the infant's difficulty in adjusting to the absence of alcohol after birth.

Other options present symptoms that do not accurately describe withdrawal in newborns. For instance, increased appetite and calmness do not align with the common agitation seen in withdrawal, while severe lethargy and weight gain suggest a different clinical scenario, possibly indicating other health issues. Enhanced reflexes and high blood pressure could be associated with different conditions but are not typical withdrawal symptoms specifically linked to alcohol exposure. Thus, the specified symptoms in the correct answer closely align with recognized signs of NAS due to maternal alcohol use.