Final answer:
You decrease the risk of neurologic injury in a premature newborn by adjusting the bed to ensure the baby's legs are even or lower than the head, facilitating proper blood flow during resuscitation.
Step-by-step explanation:
You decrease the risk of neurologic injury in a premature newborn during and after resuscitation by adjusting the bed so that the baby's legs are even or lower than the head. By positioning the baby this way, you help to ensure proper blood flow to the brain, which can be particularly important in premature infants whose bodily systems and barriers are not fully developed, making their central nervous system (CNS) more vulnerable to injury.
Promoting efficient circulation is crucial during the resuscitation process when the baby's physiology is under stress. Furthermore, maintaining such positioning is consistent with broader recommendations aimed at reducing Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) risks, such as avoiding overheating and exposure to secondhand smoke, as well as placing infants on their backs to sleep without any suffocation hazards in their cribs. These strategies overall help to safeguard the health and safety of the newborn.