PHOTOS: The moms (and dads) of Ivory Coast are falling in love with kangaroo care

New father Yappe Pako gets help with his kangaroo care carrier from midwife Marie-Josée Miezan. His newborn son is named Ambo Crisostome. They're in the kangaroo care ward at the University Hospital Medical Center at Treichville in the Ivory Coast. A new program teaches the technique to moms — and dads. It's especially beneficial for preterm and low birthweight babies. (Andrew Caballero-Reynolds for NPR)

Many low-resource areas of the world are short on medical technology, including incubators. So why not turn parents into pseudo-incubators? When a baby is born prematurely, a good way to help the baby survive and thrive is simply to hold it close to a parent's naked chest. No technology needed!

That's the essence of kangaroo care.