How Embrace Incubators Work

Every 40 seconds, the world loses a newborn to the effects of preterm birth. One of the greatest threats these babies face is hypothermia. Tiny bodies lose heat up to four times faster than adults, and even a small drop in temperature can mean the difference between life and death. In high-income countries, advanced incubators protect fragile newborns, but these machines cost thousands of dollars, require stable electricity, require regular maintence, and need trained staff to operate, all resources that are often scarce in rural and/or fragile health systems and conflict zones. 

In emergencies, where more than 60 percent of neonatal ICUs may be non-functional, there is no viable warming solution for newborns. This gap is most deadly for families in remote, under‑resourced, or conflict‑affected communities, where the absence of appropriate technology is compounded by fragile health systems and inequitable access to care. 

This is why Embrace created a different kind of solution: a  low-cost, low-electricity, and portable incubator designed for the realities of the world’s most vulnerable settings. Built with both science and empathy, Embrace incubators have already helped protect more than one million babies across 25 countries. 

Why it matters 

Every year, 15 million babies are born too soon or too small. Nearly 2.3 million die within their first month of life, the majority in low- and middle-income countries. Almost all of these deaths are preventable. Embrace incubators bridge the gap where traditional solutions fail, whether in a rural clinic facing rolling blackouts, a refugee camp, or a hospital basement doubling as a bomb shelter. 

The science inside 

At the core of every Embrace incubator is the WarmPak, a pouch filled with a phase-change material (PCM). PCMs are remarkable because they absorb and release large amounts of energy as they shift between solid and liquid states, all while holding a steady temperature. Take water, for example: as it melts into liquid or freezes into ice, it remains exactly at 0°C until the entire phase change is complete.   

Embrace uses the same principle to keep babies warm. Our PCM is specially designed to melt and solidify at 98°F (37°C), the same as the human body. With just 30 minutes in our AccuTemp Heater—which uses about the same electricity as a lightbulb—the WarmPak reaches this safe temperature. It then provides a steady source of warmth for 4–6 hours at room temperature, and can be reheated and reused hundreds of times. 

Once warmed, the WarmPak slides into a pocket in the BabyWrap, creating a cushioned, stable environment for the baby. Unlike bulky machines, the BabyWrap keeps babies close: nurses can still access IVs or medical devices, and mothers can hold and bond with their child, all while ensuring the newborn stays warm and safe. 

Designed for the real world 

Unlike bulky machines, the Embrace incubator takes the form of a BabyWrap with a soft cushion system. It is lightweight, intuitive to use, and easy to clean. A caregiver simply heats the WarmPak, places it in the incubator pocket, and wraps the baby securely. No specialized training is required. The design is also family-centered: it complements Kangaroo Mother Care, allowing parents to hold and bond with their baby while keeping them warm. 

Each device is CE-marked and manufactured in ISO-certified facilities, ensuring it meets international medical safety standards. 

Impact in action 

To date, our incubators have been deployed in hospitals, emergency transport systems, refugee camps, and crisis zones.  They have helped keep over 1 million babies warm across almost 30 countries.

Our portable incubators are recognized by UNICEF and Nest 360, confirming their credibility in global health procurement. Partners such as IMC, Project HOPE, CARE, and National Ministries of Health regularly report on the lives saved through this innovation. By embedding our solution into health systems and training community health workers, we ensure that even the smallest and most fragile newborns—often invisible in official data—are given the warmth and care they need to survive. Success means bridging the gap between crisis response and long-term health system strengthening, creating a future where no baby dies simply because of where they are born. 

A simple idea, a powerful future 

For a premature baby, survival can depend on something as basic as warmth. Embrace incubators prove that lifesaving technology doesn’t have to be complicated. Sometimes the most transformative solutions are those designed with empathy, simplicity, and science. 

With every WarmPak heated, we’re not only protecting newborns, we’re giving families hope, strengthening communities, and reimagining what is possible for global maternal and child health.