7 Trays in Labour Room: Essential Guide for Delivery Room Organization: Fast-Track Guide to the 7 Trays Every Labour Room Needs

Organizing the labour room is crucial for efficient, safe, and stress-free deliveries. In many hospitals, professionals rely on a "7 tray system," where each tray is dedicated to a specific set of tasks or supplies essential for maternal and newborn care. Understanding the purpose and contents of each tray supports both medical staff and expectant parents in ensuring everything runs seamlessly during labour and delivery.

1. Delivery Tray: Includes instruments like scissors, forceps, clamps, sutures, and sterile gloves needed for vaginal or assisted deliveries.

2. Suture Tray: Contains sterile needles, sutures, syringes, antiseptics, and dressings essential for repairing episiotomies or tears post-delivery.

3. Catheter Tray: Equipped with urinary catheters, lubricants, sterile drapes, and gloves for bladder management when necessary.

4. Episiotomy Tray: Holds scissors, forceps, local anesthetics, and sutures required if an episiotomy procedure is performed.

5. Newborn Care Tray: Packed with cord clamps, bulb syringes, baby towels, vitamin K, and other essentials for immediate newborn care after birth.

6. Perineal Care Tray: Includes perineal wash solution, gauze, perineal pads, and hand sanitizers to maintain hygiene for the mother during and after delivery.

7. Emergency Tray: Features emergency drugs, IV cannulas, oxygen masks, and resuscitation equipment for addressing complications or urgent situations.

As a designer, I see the organization of these trays as an exercise in workflow efficiency—just like how we design a functional kitchen or workspace, each zone is equipped for a specific task to minimize time lost searching for tools, reduce contamination risk, and enhance teamwork. In fact, adopting a digital solution such as a home designer platform can help simulate and optimize your delivery room setup, whether you're planning a new labour suite or renovating an existing one to provide the best patient care environment.

Tips 1:

Label each tray clearly to avoid confusion and cross-contamination. Color-coding trays for differing purposes also helps staff quickly identify and access necessary tools, especially during emergencies. Regular audits and restocking ensure the supplies remain up-to-date and ready for any scenario.

FAQ

Q: Why are there 7 trays in a labour room?

A: The 7 trays help organize essential instruments and supplies for different stages and needs of labour, improving workflow and patient safety.

Q: Can layouts of labour rooms be digitally planned?

A: Yes, using tools like "home designer" platforms allows hospitals to design efficient and practical labour room layouts before making physical changes.

Q: Who is responsible for tray organization and maintenance?

A: Nurses and staff are trained to prepare, maintain, and audit trays, ensuring every delivery room is ready for emergency and routine care.

Q: What happens if a tray runs out of supplies during a procedure?

A: Hospitals keep backup supplies and protocols for quick restocking to prevent any disruption during delivery.

Q: Are tray contents standardized across all hospitals?

A: While the concept is widely adopted, actual contents may vary based on hospital policies, patient needs, and local protocols.