PITTSBURGH -- An Armstrong County woman whose stomach was cut with a knife in an alleged attempt to steal her unborn baby is improving at Allegheny General Hospital, state police said Friday.

Valerie Oskin, 30, of Ford City, was eight months pregnant when she was attacked Wednesday. A teenager who came across the scene told his father, and they called police.

State police said Friday that Oskin "is coming around" and doctors were expected to remove her breathing tube. Also, police said her baby -- born by emergency Caesarean -- was doing fine.

Peggy Jo Conner, the 38-year-old neighbor accused of attacking Oskin, is being held without bail on charges of attempted homicide and aggravated assault.

Thomas Wilks, who says he is Conner's husband but is separated from her, called the allegations against her "impossible" and said she was pregnant.

"I got a sonogram saying she is pregnant," Wilks told reporters. "I felt the baby kick in her stomach." He added that Conner is the mother of three children, ages 16, 14 and 11.

Conner and Oskin had a "close friendship," Wilks said. "It was getting closer as the days went by. They were pregnant together. They were helping each other out."

Andreassi said a search of Conner's trailer uncovered a bassinet, baby swing and other baby items.

A search of Conner's trailer home uncovered a bassinet, baby swing and other baby items, but there is no indication that the woman is actually pregnant, Armstrong County District Attorney Scott Andreassi said.

The alleged assault began Wednesday morning, when Conner hit Oskin several times with a baseball bat, Andreassi said. Conner then put Oskin and Oskin's 7-year-old son in her car, dropped the boy off with family, and drove the pregnant woman about 15 miles to a secluded area of Wayne Township, Andreassi said.

There, Conner cut Oskin about six to eight inches across her abdomen with a razor knife, authorities said.

"She was sliced over an old (Caesarean) scar and severely bleeding," Trooper Jonathan Bayer said.

A 17-year-old boy on an ATV spotted Conner kneeling next to the pregnant woman on the ground, Bayer said. Conner told the boy that she and Oskin were fine and didn't need any help, the boy told police.

Andreassi said the teen saw the women about 5 p.m. and drove home to tell his father, who returned with him to the scene and found Conner and Oskin still there. The father and son left and at about 7 p.m. called police, who arrived a short time later and arrested Conner.

Andreassi told reporters at a news conference Friday afternoon that Oskin is off the ventilator and breathing on her own. He said she has recollection of awakening after the incident and is helping investigators.