Anguish of the mothers forced to hand over their children: Heartbreaking moments parents say goodbye to their sons and daughters at China's 'baby hatches'

The images were taken at a centre in Guangzhou, southern China

It is one of 25 such hatch facilities in mainland China, spanning 10 provinces

Photos show the last moments before parents give up their children

These heartbreaking photos reveal the anguish of parents as they abandon their children in China's so-called 'baby hatches.'The images taken at a centre in Guangzhou - one of 25 such hatch facilities in mainland China, spanning 10 provinces and major cities - show the last moments before parents give up their infants  often due to poverty or an inability to cope with disease or disability.
Abandoning children is illegal in China, but the 'hatches' were introduced so parents could abandon infants safely rather than leaving them in the streets.
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But critics argue it encourages drastic action and believe some parents may feel it is more socially acceptable to abandon their children.

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The hatch in opened in January, but staff were forced to shut the door just two months later after becoming overwhelmed with 262 abandoned youngsters - all of which were ill or disabled. 'My baby cannot take care of itself when it grows up. I just want my baby to survive,' said a mother reported the South China Morning Post.