Charity slammed for hosting ‘chestfeeding’ events for ‘pregnant people’ in Waterford city
The Waterford branch of Cuidiú regularly hosts events described as such
A charity has been criticised for hosting what it describes as “chestfeeding” events for “pregnant people” in Waterford city.
Cuidiú regularly hosts a ‘Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding Group’ locally, which it says is for “pregnant parents nursing newborns [...] or anyone providing milk”.
The group meets on a monthly basis, usually in Waterford Central Library or Carrickphierish Library.
Cuidiú also has a weekly ‘Bumps N’ Babes’ group which it says is suitable for “people expecting a baby; caregivers with a newborn or child up to and including pre-school age”.
The charity is also hosting a Breastfeeding Preparation Workshop in the Viking Hotel on Sunday, September 13.
In a promotional post on social media, the event is described as being “packed with evidence-based information designed to build pregnant people’s confidence in feeding a newborn”.
Cuidiú’s most recent publically available annual report, which was published in 2021, shows that it received around €30,000 in funding from the HSE.
Speaking to the Irish Daily Mail, Aontú leader and Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín has criticised the charity for the terminology it uses for such events.
In particular, Deputy Tóibín criticised the use of the term ‘chestfeeding’, describing it as “insulting nonsense”.
He added that “chestfeeding isn’t a thing” and that “only women can breastfeed”.
He subsequently called for an end to what he described as “the eradication of female-specific language”.
The Waterford branch of Cuidiú has been approached for comment in relation to the Aontú leader’s remarks.