A woman and her daughter-in-law both ended up in a hospital yesterday morning after they apparently attacked each other with hammers in their downtown apartment.

The daughter-in-law, surnamed Chen, is five months pregnant and was seriously injured, but so far is in stable condition, doctors at Zhongshan Hospital told Shanghai Daily.

The fight took place about 7am in their apartment on Wulumuqi Road. Both were rushed to hospital by ambulance.

"So far the baby is fine but we have to observe her closely for a longer period," a hospital official said.

Chen cried in front of a TV news camera as she recalled being hit repeatedly by her mother-in-law with a hammer. Her head was bandaged and blood stains were visible on her face.

According to the Shanghai TV station, she told police she was washing some food in the kitchen when she was attacked from behind by her mother-in-law.

The hospital said the multiple cut wounds to her head and other injuries supported Chen's account. The elder woman, surnamed Hu, also said she was attacked by Chen with a hammer.

Doctors said Hu suffered bruises that were unlikely to have been caused by hammer blows.

Chen told police her mother-in-law hit herself with the hammer to make a false accusation, STV reported.

Chen's husband told STV that her mother did not agree with his marriage and the two women had long held a grudge against one another.

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