ST. LOUIS (KMOX)- An effort by New York City Mayor Bloomberg to help hospitals educate moms about the benefits of breastfeeding draws praise from officials at Barnes Jewish Hospital.

Mayor Bloomberg says mothers who insist on bottle feeding will still be able to do so, but nurses would have to sign out the baby formula first. The director of women and infants at Barnes Jewish Hospital — Carol Scott — says breastfeeding really is best for the baby.

“It decreases infections in new-born babies, it decreases diarrhea, and it decreases, later in life, things like asthma, diabetes and obesity,” she says.

Scott says breastfeeding also helps moms lower their risk of breast and ovarian cancer.

Barnes Jewish is working to become designated a baby friendly hospital — which will in part mean that free infant formula supplied by manufacturers will be eliminated — including in those swag bags new moms take home.

“When hospitals give out these free bags, its almost if we are indorsing it. That this is the best formula for your baby,” Scott explains. “When in fact, breast milk is the best food for any newborn baby.”

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