TROIS-RIVIERES -- The mother of a 16-hour-old infant abducted from a Quebec hospital says she's grateful to all the people who helped bring her baby back safe and sound.

Police issued an Amber Alert on Monday night after the newborn was allegedly snatched from the mother's hospital room in Trois-Rivieres by a woman wearing scrubs and posing as a nurse.

A group of four locals who recognized the suspect in a security-camera photo released on social media have been credited with helping police apprehend the woman and recover the baby three hours later.

Melissa McMahon posted a message Tuesday on her Facebook page, thanking hospital staff, police, the media and the public for helping find her daughter Victoria.

"We experienced the worst moment of our life," wrote McMahon, who said she sprinted after the woman toward the hospital exit after sensing something was wrong.

"The powerlessness we felt in this situation was difficult to accept... The worst-possible scenarios were looping in our heads."

McMahon, who also urged parents to check a nurse's badge and to always ask questions, posted a photo on Facebook of herself and her spouse, Simon Boisclair, holding Victoria.

The mom said she wouldn't have Victoria in her arms today without the help of the thousands of people who rapidly shared the Amber Alert and the photo of the suspect on social media.

The Amber Alert released the photo of the suspect and said she was driving a red Toyota Yaris hatchback with a "Baby on Board" sticker on the rear window.

"Every click, every share made the difference," said McMahon, who specifically thanked the young locals who helped police track down the suspect and find the baby.

"Four marvellous people, whom we had the chance to meet, identified this woman thanks to Facebook ... We felt a huge amount of support from the public. This victory is for you, too!!!"

McMahon also asked that the public spread her latest message: "Thanks again and share one more time, please."

Quebec provincial police Sgt. Claude Denis said it is too early to say whether the 21-year-old suspect would be arraigned Tuesday.

"The suspect is in hospital right now and investigators will meet her when her condition allows for that," he said in an interview.

He said a woman was dressed as a nurse when she entered the room.

"She left the room with a little girl she had wrapped in a blanket."

Possible criminal charges include kidnapping, Denis said.