How is a 29-week-gestation infant most likely to lose body heat immediately after delivery?

A 29-week-gestation infant is most likely to lose body heat immediately after delivery primarily through evaporation and conduction.

Immediately after birth, infants, especially preterm ones, are at a high risk for heat loss due to their larger surface area relative to their volume and the immaturity of their skin.

Evaporation occurs when moisture on the infant's skin, such as amniotic fluid, evaporates, taking heat away from the body. This process can result in significant heat loss, especially if the infant is not dried thoroughly or exposed to a cooler environment after delivery.

Conduction refers to heat loss through direct contact with cold surfaces, such as a scale or a table. Preterm infants possess delicate skin, which increases the likelihood of conduction heat loss when they come into contact with cooler objects directly.

While convection and radiation are also methods of heat loss, they are not as immediate after birth in this context. Convection involves heat loss through the air, and radiation occurs when heat is transferred to nearby objects without direct contact, which can happen after some time rather than right at birth. Therefore, the most critical factors for immediate heat loss are evaporation and conduction.