The Complications of Drinking Cinnamon Sticks to Induce Labor - Research Paper Example

Identify the Complications of Drinking Cinnamon Sticks to Induce Labor Chapter Research Proposal Introduction Cinnamon sticks have for a long time, been used as a means of inducing labor and this method has become extremely common especially in Saudi Arabia. Cinnamon is one of the most common spices that can be found in most stores and this availability has made it almost indispensable for those women who would like to end their pregnancies. The development of the means of using cinnamon sticks as a means of inducing labor, while it is lost in history, has in recent years come under intense study because it has allowed for the development of a new field of research in nursing. In Saudi Arabia, it is common for expectant mothers who are past term to use cinnamon sticks as a means of ensuring that labor is induced and that they give birth to their children normally. Cinnamon sticks have been used traditionally and continues to be considered as a means of inducing labor even though it is normally used without the prescriptions on physicians. However, while this may be the case, there are instances where the use of cinnamon sticks might prove to be dangerous for the health of both mothers and their unborn children which comes about as a result of the former developing complications during labor. Without the approval of physicians, it is most likely that problems might arise for an expectant mother especially in a situation where labor takes place without the supervision of midwives which might result in the loss of the pregnancy. Therefore, without the explicit involvement of physicians or midwives, it is essential for expectant mothers to be careful about using cinnamon stick as a means of inducing labor. Research problem Lack of research studies about the complication of drinking boiled cinnamon sticks with water to induce labor Research purpose To identify the complication of drinking boiled cinnamon sticks with water to induce labor Research question: What are the complications of drinking boiled cinnamon sticks with water to induce labor? Delimitations This qualitative research is focused on showing the complications that are involved in situations where cinnamon sticks are used to induce labor. As a result, the study will focus on interviews with physicians who are most likely to have knowledge concerning the possible side effects that pregnant women and children end up having, while at the same time detailing some of the cases that they have dealt with over the years (Botha, 1989). In this way, it will be possible to learn from a firsthand perspective the various side effects that are involved when using this spice to induce labor. Only midwives will be targeted because to do otherwise would mean having to undertake a wide range of interviews which would not be possible because of time constraints as well as the reality of the situation where it would be difficult to synthesize all the information gathered. The study will involve interviews with semi-structured open-ended questions in order to gain the desired information and in order to achieve this, it will be essential for the subjects to be able to speak and understand the English language so that the questions and answers can be gotten appropriately (John and Johnson, 2000; Barsalou, 2005). Assumptions One of the assumptions that are made in this study is that midwives will be willing to participate in the interviews that are intended and that they will be honest in answering all the questions that they are asked. The researcher anticipates a sample of some 5 – 10 physicians whose opinions will be sought and this will be done in order to ensure diversity in opinions. It is assumed that the results of the research conducted will be applied in ensuring that women who would use cinnamon sticks to induce labor are warned of all possible side effects and that through these warnings are able to protect themselves and their babies against any harm that might come about. Limitations One of the limitations that might come about as a result of this study is the possibility that some midwives or physicians might decide not to accept requests for interviews and questionnaires. Furthermore, there is a possibility that the data collected might not be enough to make adequate conclusions concerning the safety concerns involved in the use of cinnamon sticks to induce pregnancy (Shields and Tajalli, 2006). Moreover, the study might end up only showing results for a specific area rather than a more generalized one mainly because there is not enough time and resources to conducts a wider research. There is also the possibility that those individuals who have agreed to be interviewed might decide to back out in the last minute and this might result in delays mainly because there will be a need to find other individuals willing to be interviewed. Significance This research study will be qualitative and it will aim at specific aspects of the side effects involved in using cinnamon sticks to induce labor that many women in society are unaware. This study will allow for a contribution to the knowledge of means of inducing labor as well as the risks that are involved in such actions. It is through the research conducted that it will be possible for midwives as well as pregnant women to be aware of the facts involved in using cinnamon sticks and knowledge concerning these risks will create a situation where it will be possible to facilitate the safe delivery of babies without complications (He, Qiao, Han, et al, 2005). Moreover, the interviews conducted will make it possible for there to be a promotion of safe delivery methods, which will help women to have healthy children at birth with little risk to their own health. Finally, the study will be helpful for those individuals who never even knew that there were risks in the use of cinnamon stick to induce labor and it could potentially open their eyes. References Barsalou, L.W. (2005). Continuity of the conceptual system across species. Trends in Cognitive Sciences, 9(7), 309–311. Botha, M.E. (1989). Theory Development in Perspective: The Role of Conceptual Frameworks and Models in Theory Development. Journal of Advanced Nursing, 14(1), 49–55. He, Z.D., Qiao, C.F., Han, Q.B., et al. (2005). Authentication and quantitative analysis on the chemical profile of cassia bark (cortex cinnamomi) by high-pressure liquid chromatography. J Agric Food Chem, 53, 2424-8. John, W.S. & Johnson, P. (2000). The pros and cons of data analysis software for qualitative research. Journal of Nursing Scholarship, 32(4), 393-7. Shields, P.M. & Tajalli, H. (2006). Intermediate Theory: The Missing Link in Successful Student Scholarship. Journal of Public Affairs Education, 12(3), 313-334. Chapter 2 Part I: Literature Review Matan, et al (2006) argue that cinnamon sticks can be quite risky for pregnant women who use it to induce labor because it creates a situation where they are at risk of suffering from toxicity accumulation. This is especially the case where it is used for an extended period without attaining the intended results and this might create a situation where there the woman who uses them ends up developing some serious health problems. These problems might lead to a situation where the baby is also put at risk because high toxicity levels in the mother as a result of high consumption of cinnamon might be fatal for the baby. This is a situation, which has to be avoided at all costs, and it requires that expectant mothers desist from using large amounts of cinnamon sticks in trying to induce labor. This study is useful because it shows that despite the common assumption that the use of cinnamon induces labor, there are instances where it does not work and an increase in the amount consumed will not help in any way. In fact, it might create a situation where the mother puts her baby at risk and this might cause a situation where there is little that can be done to save it. However, this study fails to show for how long a mother can take cinnamon sticks before it becomes risky and it is essential that such figures be shown to ensure that there is more sensitization in the society concerning the risks involved. The study does not have interviews with women who have suffered the risks involved in cinnamon toxicity firsthand because information from these women would have been insightful in not only developing conclusions, but would also have increased the credibility of the study. Despite the lack of interviews in the methodology, this study shows that while cinnamon might be harmless for those who use it on a regular basis, it carries some serious risks for expectant mothers and it is essential that it only be used sparingly or in small doses in situations where they wish to induce labor. Like the one that has been discussed above, the results of this study also show that pregnant women should avoid using cinnamon as a means of inducing labor because it has some serious health risks for them and their babies. Nahas and Moher (2009), state that this is mainly because it might bring about premature labor, which the child might not be able to survive. Cinnamon has the ability of inducing premature labor or uterine contractions and this creates a situation where despite the desires of the mother, the baby might be born too soon. Under these circumstances, it is often difficult to know whether it will survive or not and this might cause serious distress on the part of the mother. Furthermore, there is also a situation where the expectant mother herself might be put at risk because the induced labor might cause her to develop complications during birth. It is necessary for there to be caution when using cinnamon sticks as a means of inducing labor because, like the study conducted above, this study also concludes that it might result in putting the baby in unnecessary risk especially in a situation where there is excessive toxicity caused through heavy consumption. However, this study concludes that the consumption of cinnamon in small quantities during pregnancy does not bring about many risks and in fact ensures that the mother becomes healthier. Despite this, cinnamon sticks, when consumed for inducing labor can be very risky for both the mother and child. The methodology used in this research is sound because there is a combination of interviews and questionnaires with individuals who have used cinnamon sticks before as well as information acquired from midwives who have dealt with such issues before and the use of secondary sources. Therefore, it is through the diversified form of data collection and analysis that this study has ensured credibility. Its major weakness, however, is that it concentrates more on the issue of the usage of cinnamon sticks as an agent of inducing premature labor rather than the one which takes place when the baby has come to term and this seems to be a one-sided approach. Woehrlin, et al (2010) argue that there are situations where cinnamon stick usage in inducing pregnancy might have undesired effects on the expectant mother and this is especially as a result of its coumarin content. This study shows that regular cinnamon sticks tend to have high levels of coumarin within them and this is a substance which has health risks because it might cause liver failure of taken on a daily basis in order to induce labor. Regular cinnamon sticks, especially the Cassia variety, tend to have as a much as 5% coumarin content and this might be considered dangerous for an expectant mother. This is because a case of liver failure might not only be risky for her, but for her baby as well, because the means of cleaning blood in the body will have been interrupted. In such a situation, it would be essential to ensure that when expectant mothers wish to induce labor, they shift to using the Ceylon variety of cinnamon sticks because this only contains some 0.04% coumarin, which is essentially negligible since it allows the user to ingest it without any risk to themselves or their baby. Through the provision of figures, this study shows an in depth analysis of the different variety of cinnamon sticks and the varieties that can safely be used during pregnancy to induce labor. The researcher in this study shows an awareness to detail as shown through the description of the different cinnamon varieties that are discussed as well as the development of a new perspective concerning them. There is an implication that despite the risks that have been stated above, cinnamon can still be used effectively to induce labor, as long as it is the variety that contains lesser coumarin content. This study, however, discusses the risks involved in using cinnamon in high doses on a daily basis because it might bring about a situation where high levels of coumarin leads to liver failure in the expectant mother and this might also have a negative effect on the baby. The detailed research that is conducted can be used as a means of showing that despite the many adverse effects that they might have, cinnamon sticks can still be used, in small doses, to induce labor. There are certain situations where cinnamon sticks act as a blood thinner and this can be risky for an expectant mother because if she uses them to induce labor, she might end up suffering from excessive blood loss during delivery. Khan et al (2003) state thatOne of the most common characteristics of cinnamon is as a blood thinner and this creates a situation where it can be extremely useful for those individuals who suffer from heart disease. This is because cinnamon acts as an anti-clotting agent and it provides the individual who uses it the ability to have their blood move faster in the body. However, there are situations where it is possible that it will have the same effect when it is used to induce labor and this can be detrimental in the health of the expectant mother because it makes it difficult for her blood to clot after birth. Therefore, while cinnamon sticks might have the desired effect of inducing labor in expectant mothers, it is also accompanied by health risks which are not anticipated and this might lead to the death of a mother. It is therefore essential that all possible precautions be taken in using cinnamon sticks because it is through these precautions that it is possible to know the best variety to use. The study agrees with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services National Institutes of Health by showing that the Cassia cinnamon has the highest blood thinning properties. It is for this reason that it should be avoided as an agent of inducing pregnancy and expectant mothers should instead use Ceylon cinnamon sticks for the purpose because it has lesser blood thinning properties. The study also warns that cinnamon sticks should not be taken alongside blood thinning medication because they might have an adverse effect on the health of the expectant mother. This study is essential to this research because it allows for the evaluation of the blood thinning properties of cinnamon sticks that might have an effect on the user and the methodology used is sound since it allows for an assessment of the different varieties of cinnamon. While this study concentrates on the medicinal properties of cinnamon, it also tackles how these same properties might negatively affect the user, especially if it is an expectant mother wishing to induce labor. Akilen, et al. (2012) recognize that a number of people, although a minority, are allergic to cinnamon and this creates a situation where it is difficult to predict its effect on an expectant mother wishing to induce pregnancy. For a woman who does not always use this spice, cinnamon sticks might create a situation where it is difficult for them to cope with the various side effects such as having an upset stomach or facial and hand swelling as well as dizziness. All of these are highly risky for an expectant mother because they not only endanger her, but they also endanger her baby. Under such circumstances, the woman might end up losing her balance and falling as a result of dizziness and this fall might take place under conditions that might be harmful for the baby. Furthermore, there are situations where as a result of an allergic reaction, an expectant mother comes to experience an unusual heartbeat as well as a sudden drop of blood pressure which might not be good for the baby because under such circumstances, she might end up losing it because she cannot get medical attention fast enough. Those individuals who are allergic to cinnamon react differently to its different varieties and it is essential that before using it to induce labor, expectant mothers find out which variety that might be allergic to. Without such knowledge, such mothers might be putting their babies at risk because the latter might develop a serious reaction through the mother consuming cinnamon and this might lead to their death. This study deals with the allergies that are involved as a result of the consumption of cinnamon sticks by expectant mothers and it allows one to understand the significance of knowing the variety of cinnamon that is to be consumed before using it as a means of inducing labor. In this way, it is possible to ensure that both the mother and the baby are protected from the complications that might arise because of using cinnamon sticks to induce labor. Part II: Conceptual Framework The research will be conducted using qualitative methods, mainly the grounded theory, and this will involve the collection of data mainly through studies and interviews that will help determine the conclusions that the researcher will come up with after analysis (Deegan, 2005, p.1184). When collecting data, among the most important aspects that will be considered is that the various observations that will be made concerning the subject matter as well as the personal perspectives of those individuals who have been affected by complications involving using cinnamon sticks to induce labor (Onwuegbuzie et al, 2012). This will ensure that the research puts into perspective the various issues, which help in the determination of the reasons why the use of cinnamon sticks is considered the best option among some people. In addition to this, the research methods adopted will allow the researcher to get close to the people who have the information that he wishes to gain concerning cinnamon sticks and labor. This will ensure that he does not end up relying on generalized information, instead creating the opportunity to gain an insight concerning the unique circumstances that led to the decision to use this spice. In qualitative research, the researcher’s personal experiences and insights when conducting a study are some of the most important aspects of his inquiry because it allows his to be able to better understand the diverse phenomena concerning the subject of the research (Sinuff, Cook and Giacomini, 2007). It will therefore be important for the researcher to get directly involved in the study of the subject matter, to the extent of going to interview the physicians who have dealt with complications related to labor induced by cinnamon. This study considers that patients should not be self directed, take responsibility for their actions during pregnancy, and resist having traditional methods of inducing labor, such as drinking cinnamon sticks, arbitrarily imposed on them. Expectant mothers have to be ready to learn and since many of them tend to take cinnamon sticks voluntarily, it is essential for them to ensure that they learn as much as possible about the procedures they have to undergo (Hobson, 2011). The study takes note that as a result of the needs of expectant mothers, health care facilities in Saudi Arabia are adapting to new technologies and implementing proper management and treatment measures to enable the improvement of their outcomes. It should be noted that while drinking cinnamon sticks in order to induce labor bring the risks of both failures and improper use, the use of modern facilities can also help to improve the outcomes of expectant mothers and their children. The outcomes of these individuals are variations in the condition of the health of an individual or patient due to an intervention. It is, therefore, essential that the proper management and advice given by midwives to expectant mothers might have an impact on achieving good patient health outcomes within the population that is at high risk. The study attempts to show that the risks involved in drinking cinnamon sticks is founded on the evidence from studies and trials, however, when it comes to outcomes, a very different way of thinking is created. A methodical examination of the outcomes that involve the use of cinnamon sticks has been found to have many advantages by creating performance based verification (Maxwell, 2009, p.222). An assessment made by midwives concerning the possible outcome measure has to be valid in order to be useful, that is, it has to assess only what it is supposed to and be reliable, only showing a minimal error. The research subjects as well as the possible outcomes need to be easy to control, be insightful to what is being measured and be precise when it comes to indentifying those measurements that may be false (Brains, et al, 2011, p.75). The simplest measures to be put under study are those dealing with process because they rarely show the outcomes of clinical interventions and instead, they only show those dealing with the problem once it has occurred (Babbie, 2007, p.89). The study shows that the outcomes of clinical treatment processes for those women that have developed complications as a result of using cinnamon sticks have been found to be very difficult to develop and to implement, although it is recognized that the reported outcomes of patients have ensured the success of treatments as well as the development of better means of treating expectant mothers. The measurement of management and treatment outcomes for expectant mothers before and after labor has now become an essential part of research on the risk of using cinnamon sticks to induce labor and those, who might use this information, range from the patients involved to those who make policy on healthcare. No single outcome is sufficient in the measurement of any aspect of the complications that arise from using cinnamon sticks since the various instruments needed to come up with a conclusive measurement have to come from multidisciplinary sources (Shields and Rangarjan, 2013, p.24). It is best to have a sufficient number of these measures that have been appropriately risk adjusted so that they can then be measured in order to provide a continuous feedback to research on the subject. The development of a proper analysis of complications that arise from the use of cinnamon sticks requires uninterrupted measurement and understanding in concurrence with treatment process and patient characteristics. Since in this type of research, the individual conducting it is not allowed to make judgments on the people he or she is interviewing, a thorough study shall be made to ensure that only the most accurate information concerning the complications that arise because of the use of cinnamon sticks to induce labor is collected. The researcher will be aware of the sensitivity of the issue and because of this awareness, the observations made when conducting the research will add to its quality since the information received will be accurate (Yu et al, 2011).  During the process of making the research findings the researcher will make sure that he includes himself and his informants so that the credibility of the research can be advanced through the researcher’s personal experience. This format will work towards making the research process more visible and alive to those with no prior knowledge concerning the research and it will eventually enable the researchers and participants to be viewed as real people. Since change is a process that is ongoing, it will be necessary for the researcher to make frequent adjustments so that there is no loss of focus during the research. References Akilen, R., Tsiami, A., Devendra, D., et al. (2012). Cinnamon in glycaemic control: Systematic review and meta analysis. 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