VELA Neonatal Chair

Item no. 87214

The VELA Neonatal Chair is a specially designed armchair aimed at enhancing the work environment for healthcare professionals and strengthening the bond between parents and newborns, particularly through skin-to-skin contact.

This chair allows for optimal angling during breastfeeding and milk pumping, reducing the need for repositioning and minimizing stress on the infant.
It effectively supports parents in maintaining uninterrupted skin-to-skin contact with their child.
The chair's sit-to-stand assistance aids parents in sitting down or getting up with or without the child, which is especially appreciated post-cesarean section [6].

Improper working positions are avoidable by adjusting the chair to suit the staff's ergonomics and the current examination.
It occupies less space than a hospital bed and is as easy to operate with its electric functions.

References
Measurements
Fabric & Colours
User Manual

Measurements

Headrest

52 x 35 cm
(20.5 x 13.8 in)

Backrest (W x H)

52 x 52 cm
(20.5 x 20.5 in)

Seat (W x D)

52 x 48 cm
(20.5 x 18.9 in)

Footrest

44 x 33 cm
(17.3 x 13 in)

Armrest pad (W x L)

12 x 63 cm
(4.7 x 24.8 in)

Seat height

44-84 cm
(17.3-33.1 in)

Max weight load

140 kg (305 lbs)

Illusion

Illusion

Illusion meets all cleaning requirements in the healthcare sector and is also Oecotex certified. Illusion can be cleaned with concentrations up to 75% ethanol and withstand chlorine disinfection (disinfection containing active chlorine up to 5000 ppm). Illusion has a nice surface that is not slippery to sit on.

Illusion is a textile created by Nevotex.

Standard colours

Note: Colour reproduction varies depending on the monitor and graphics card – we therefore encourage you to view a physical colour card before purchasing.

00110

57841

67382

Other colours available

There will be a surcharge and longer delivery by selecting a different colour than standard.

00800

22427

23660

24784

28040

36519

36850

44184

44388

45633

46508

47124

48013

53593

57069

61602

63174

65072

65307

66745

67403

68523

68746

72133

74007

75566

76236

6725

77773

82417

83430

84176

85020

85352

87241

93086

See all colours

Specifications

Textile:

100% Polyurethane

Backing

100% cotton

Flame retardant:

BS 5852 Crib 5 with treatment,
EN 1021-1 / 2 when flameprotected,
IMO A 652: 2010 Source 1 & 2

Durability

> 500,000 Martindale,
ISO5470-2

UV resistance and brightness

Note> 6,
ISO 105-B02

Pilling

Note 5,
EN ISO 12945

The upholstery has been tested with regard to cold cracking down to -40 ° F, corresponding to -40 ° C, ISO 1876-1: 1998-01.

The padding is Oekotex labeled and surface resistant to blood and urine (EN 12720).

The upholstery is BIOcompatible and approved according to ISO 10993-10: 2014. See all specifications here.

Cleaning

Clean the fabric with warm water and neutral detergent (use a soft cloth).

Disinfection is possible with many different cleaning agents, e.g. alcohol 75% ethanol, various wipes (read more here) and chlorine disinfection (disinfection containing active chlorine at 5000 ppm). After cleaning or disinfecting, rinse repeatedly with cool clean water and dry with a ragged, clean cloth.

When cleaning: Always test the detergent/disinfectant on a less visible area first.

NOTE:
Do not use solvent-based detergent (such as turpentine).

References

Reference: Betty Nørgaard, Quality Coordinator, Postdoc

Department: Neonatology, Kolding Sygehus Hospital

About: The Department of Neonatology is a specialised department where premature children and newborn children with illnesses are cared for and treated. Neonatology departments focus on the development of the children admitted and the wellbeing of the families in general.

Betty Nørgaard, Quality Coordinator, on the VELA Neonatal Chair:

This hospital chair for patients allows parents to be more independent. Previously, they would need help placing a pillow under one arm. Then they would need help reaching the mother’s milk. When sitting in the VELA chair, parents can adjust the position themselves if they need to. Maybe they want to lean back a little further or put their legs up. It means a lot to the parents to be able to do the small things themselves while sitting with their child.

The work environment is improved for our staff, as the chair can easily be raised and lowered using a remote control. This means that the staff no longer have to work hunched over or stand in uncomfortable positions when showing or helping parents feed their baby, which was often the case with our previous recliners.

The chair looks homely and as the parents are often at the hospital for a long time, it means a lot to them if the environment feels more like home.

The chair is comfortable, so the parents can sit with their child for long periods of time without experiencing discomfort.

Reference: Mother of a preemie

Department: Mother and Child Center, Reinier de Graaf Hospital, Netherlands

About: The Mother and Child Center offer family-oriented care.

Mother of a preemie, Mother and Child Center, Reinier de Graaf Hospital, Netherlands

The VELA Neonatal Chair is comfortable and easy to use. I cuddled with my daughter for hours. While I was with my daughter, the doctor checked her. That went well. I liked that I could stay in the chair. Because the height of the VELA is adjustable, the doctor could do her job. My daughter and I enjoyed Kangaroo Care in the VELA chair.

Reference: Jana Wald IBCLC, Pediatric Nurse, Developmental Neonatal Supporter EFNB

Department: Neonatology Perinatal Center Level 1 Vivantes Hospital in Friedrichshain Berlin

Jana Wald IBCLC, Pediatric Nurse, Developmental Neonatal Supporter EFNB

The easy operation and convenient features, such as height adjustment and adjustable armrests, allow families to kangaroo care even with very small premature infants and sick newborns right from the beginning. The work of the nursing staff is significantly eased.

User Manual

VELA Neonatal Chair

Download

Functions of the Chair:

Watch this video about the different settings available. See how these features support workflow through a good standing position, and give parents the best chance of sitting comfortably with their child even for long periods of time.

Turn and rotate the chair to explore it from all angles

Developed in collaboration with Sygehus Lillebælt and the University of Southern Denmark, the VELA Neonatal Chair creates optimal conditions for staff in maternity and neonatal units, as well as for parents and newborns.

Better Working Conditions in Maternity and Neonatal Units

A 2023 study showed that a chair specifically designed for maternity and neonatal departments improves working conditions compared to a hospital bed [6]. It reduces the workload for staff, as parents can independently sit and reposition themselves with the child during sessions. The chair is also a welcome tool for maintaining an appropriate working height for the staff without interrupting kangaroo care, such as when taking blood samples from the infant.

Benefits of Skin-to-Skin Contact

The World Health Organization and various studies recommend skin-to-skin contact for prematurely born infants with their parents, as it’s proven valuable for the child’s development and healing [1,2,7]. This contact helps stabilize the infant’s temperature, heart rate, and breathing, promotes weight gain, and encourages healthy sleep patterns. It also supports the bonding process between parent and child. Additionally, it reduces parental stress [1,2,7].

Research also indicates challenges associated with skin-to-skin contact in maternity and neonatal units: parents’ concerns about holding their children, lack of attention from staff, and limited resources and space [3,4,5].

How an Armchair is Better for Skin-to-Skin Contact

The VELA Neonatal Chair supports the kangaroo method by occupying less space than a hospital bed while providing better armrest and base support, enabling parents to perform skin-to-skin contact with their child. Adjustable armrests, back and seat angling, and leg support relieve parents during extended kangaroo care sessions. The chair also offers more support than a traditional hospital bed in physically demanding situations like breastfeeding or when the child needs to be bottle-fed or tube-fed. A 2023 study revealed that parents experienced significantly greater comfort using an armchair for skin-to-skin contact compared to those using a hospital bed [6].

Sources

1 Kostandy, R.R., and S.M. Ludington-Hoe. 2019. “The Evolution of the Science of Kangaroo (Mother) Care (Skin-to-Skin Contact).” Birth Defects Research 111 (15): 1032–1043. doi:10.1002/bdr2.1565.

2 Ionio, C., G. Ciuffo, and M. Landoni. 2021. “Parent-Infant Skin-to-Skin Contact and Stress Regulation: A Systematic Review of the Literature.” International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. 18 (9): 4695.

3 Jesney, S. 2016. “A Critical Analysis of the Role of the Nurse in the Implementation of Skin-to-Skin on the Neonatal Unit.” Journal of Neonatal Nursing 22 (2): 68–73. doi:10.1016/j.jnn.2015.04.008.

4 Seidman, Gabriel, Shalini Unnikrishnan, Emma Kenny, Scott Myslinski, Sarah Cairns-Smith, Brian Mulligan, and Cyril Engmann. 2015. “Barriers and Enablers of Kangaroo Mother Care Practice: A Systematic Review.” PLoS One 10 (5): e0125643. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0125643.

5 Blomqvist, Y.T., L. Frolund, C. Rubertsson, and K.H. Nyqvist. 2013. “Provision of Kangaroo Mother Care: supportive Factors and Barriers Perceived by Parents.” Scandinavian journal of Caring Sciences 27 (2): 345–353. doi:10.1111/j.1471-6712.2012.01040.x.

6 Betty Noergaard, Marianne Ravn & Poul-Erik Kofoed (2023): Parents’ comfort and staffs’ working-environment when infants are sitting skin-to-skin: a randomised controlled trial comparing a recliner and a hospital bed

7 https://www.who.int/news/item/05-06-2023-immediate-kangaroo-mother-care-reduces-risk-of-sepsis-for-babies-born-early-or-small

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Contact VELA Medical

Call us on +45 96 34 76 00 if you have questions or send us a message using the contact form below.

Contact details

VELA Medical

Gøteborgvej 8-12

9200 Aalborg SV

Denmark

Phone hours

Monday – Thursday

08:00 – 16:00

Friday

08:00 – 15:00

Saturday – Sunday

Closed

Request a quote

VELA Neonatal Chair

The VELA Neonatal Chair is a specially designed armchair aimed at enhancing the work environment for healthcare professionals and strengthening the bond between parents and newborns, particularly through skin-to-skin contact.

Measurements

Illusion

Standard colours

Other colours available

Specifications

Cleaning

References

Betty Nørgaard, Quality Coordinator, on the VELA Neonatal Chair:

Mother of a preemie, Mother and Child Center, Reinier de Graaf Hospital, Netherlands

Jana Wald IBCLC, Pediatric Nurse, Developmental Neonatal Supporter EFNB

User Manual

Functions of the Chair:

Watch this video about the different settings available. See how these features support workflow through a good standing position, and give parents the best chance of sitting comfortably with their child even for long periods of time.

Turn and rotate the chair to explore it from all angles

Better Working Conditions in Maternity and Neonatal Units

Benefits of Skin-to-Skin Contact

How an Armchair is Better for Skin-to-Skin Contact

Sources

Other chairs for obstetrics

VELA Latin 100

VELA Samba 520

VELA Samba 420

VELA Samba 500

Do you need further information?

Contact VELA Medical

Contact details

Phone hours