ST. CHARLES, Mo. -- Todd Ferring climbed into the trash bin behind a restaurant, reached down and pulled up the baby, the placenta and umbilical cord still attached. He assumed the girl was stillborn as he gave her to fellow emergency medical technician Matt Schafer.

That's when the men saw her take a breath, then utter a faint cry.

The girl, born about 10 weeks prematurely, was in critical condition after being transferred to Cardinal Glennon Children's Hospital in St. Louis. The 22-year-old mother, hospitalized in St. Charles, was under investigation.

Police chief Tim Swope said his office received a call about 10 a.m. from a nurse who had just learned from the mother and relatives that the child had been left in the trash bin. Swope stopped short of saying the mother was suspected of committing the crime, but said no one else was under investigation.

Police and the two EMTs arrived minutes later. Swope said the child had apparently been in the trash bin for several hours. With overnight temperatures in the 50s, the baby's skin was blue in parts and her body temperature was in the low- to mid-80s, Ferring said.

Authorities would not comment on reports the child was found in a trash bag. Ferring said despite the low body temperature and the premature birth, she had a strong pulse.

Police believe the mother gave birth at a home near the trash bin. It wasn't clear how long the child had been abandoned, but Ferring said it was likely several hours.

The mother apparently drove herself or had someone drive her to the hospital, where she was being treated for typical postpartum symptoms, Swope said. Because of her condition, police have not yet had a chance to interview her.

Swope would not speculate on whether the mother knew the child was alive, or whether she thought it was stillborn. He said the father was not believed to have been involved.

Relatives were cooperative and there was no evidence they were aware of the crime until the mother was hospitalized, Swope said. Police hope video surveillance footage from the restaurant offers additional clues.

Schafer's eyes moistened as he spoke of the rescue. He is a father of two children, ages 2 and 4, and lost a daughter to a congenital defect a day after her birth.

"It's something that you don't ever want to have to see," Schafer said. "'Oh my gosh she's alive' was the first thing that went through my head."

Ferring said, "It's very sad that someone could do that. I'm angry. But I'm also very glad Matt and I were there to help this little girl."