Doctors at Zhabei District Central Hospital said an unmarried mother who went into labor in a department store toilet on Saturday morning was released from hospital yesterday morning.

The mother and her new son left hospital alone as doctors could not contact her family, according to an obstetrician named Xu Liangping.

The Shanghai native surnamed Wang was found lying on the ground in a toilet in Xinxin Department Store at about 11am on Saturday.

Within three minutes Wang was rushed to Zhabei District Central Hospital located 500 meters away from the store.

"The child was almost born when they arrived and I helped to cut the umbilical cord," said Xu.After making sure mother and son were both OK, the hospital tried to find Wang's family but failed.The woman claimed that her parents don't live in the city and the baby's father was not available."She almost had no money so we bought them food and clothes on their departure," Xu said.Doctors described Wang as a young girl under the age of 20 although she claimed to be 23.

"We appeal for general concern for young unmarried mothers," Xu said. "Our hospital alone receives about 10 such cases every year, in which a single mother is sent to hospital but could neither afford medical expenses nor provide her family's information."

In other cases, babies have been abandoned at the hospital by mothers who disappear.

Zhu Dongchun, spokesman for the hospital, said when faced with such issues, doctors will cooperate with local legal aid centers and welfare institutes to make proper arrangements.