The birth of a baby is an exciting time for a couple, particularly if it is their first child, but for Salamatu Adam and her husband, Kamal-Deen Kokroko, the arrival of their first child, on October 21, 2021, at the Amoah Hospital at Ablekuma in Accra turned out to be a bittersweet experience. The initial joy and excitement was short-lived, as their son, Yahsmen Kamal Kokroko, did not cry as expected of all newborns. Midwives and parents often anticipate a baby's first cry in the labour ward because it signals a newborn's ability to breathe on its own. But about four hours after her birth, Yahsmen did not cry. According to Salamatu, the situation left her devastated, and as part of efforts to get the baby to let out her first cry, the midwife, identified as Deborah Yeboah, asked staff to get her hot water. "[The midwife] asked the other staff [in the labour room] to heat water for her.