For a neonate born at 33 weeks gestation, what is an appropriate intervention to reduce the risk of hypothermia?

Swaddling the infant in a warm blanket is an appropriate intervention for reducing the risk of hypothermia in a neonate born at 33 weeks gestation. Premature infants have less insulating subcutaneous fat and a higher surface area-to-volume ratio, which makes them more susceptible to heat loss. Swaddling effectively retains body heat by providing a warm and secure environment, thereby helping to stabilize the infant's temperature.

This action also reduces the risk of excessive heat loss through convection and radiation. By wrapping the infant snugly in a blanket, warmth is preserved, and the likelihood of hypothermia is significantly decreased. Along with environmental control measures, swaddling becomes crucial in the initial care of preterm infants to maintain normothermia.

While skin-to-skin contact is beneficial for bonding and can aid in thermoregulation, it is not as direct a method for maintaining warmth on its own as proper swaddling is, particularly in a clinical setting. Environmental air conditioning would actually put the infant at greater risk for hypothermia rather than reduce it. Minimizing contact with staff does not inherently prevent heat loss and does not address the immediate need for thermal regulation in a preterm newborn.