Cuidiú responds to controversy over ‘chestfeeding’ events held in Waterford city
Cuidiú has responded to criticism in a statement issued to Waterford Live
The charity Cuidiú has responded to controversy over what it has described as “chestfeeding” events held in Waterford city.
It regularly hosts a ‘Breastfeeding/Chestfeeding Group’ locally, which it says is for “pregnant parents nursing newborns [...] or anyone providing milk”.
In recent days, Aontú leader and Meath West TD Peadar Tóibín has criticised the terminology used by the charity in the advertising of such events.
Speaking to the Irish Daily Mail, he described the use of the term ‘chestfeeding’ as “insulting nonsense”, adding that “only women can breastfeed”.
Cuidiú has since responded to this criticism in a statement issued to Waterford Live.
A spokesperson said: “In the light of the very public print and social media debates following the ALCI Conference speaker announcement, Cuidiú wishes to re-iterate our mission statement and guiding principles:
“Cuidiú is Irish for ‘help’. With our 25+ branches throughout Ireland, 300+ trained volunteers and a further 100+ supporting volunteers, we are proud to have been supporting tens of thousands of parents annually throughout the country for the past 40 years.
“This is offered via the provision of antenatal education, breastfeeding support, parent support and socially at our branch and national meets and events.”
The charity continued by outlining the work it carries out in providing support to breastfeeding mothers.
“The most recent annual audit of breastfeeding counsellor activity revealed that 28,000 individuals were helped and supported through our network of events and online meet ups.
“If we add to that the number of families supported through our antenatal teaching programmes and the work of our parent support teams that number is significantly higher.
“Cuidiú provides a valuable link in the communities they serve between the HSE staff such as PHNs and Community based PHN Lactation Consultants/Infant Feeding Specialists.”
The spokesperson went on to address the terminology used in the advertising of such events.
“The use of inclusive language has been encouraged so that no parent feels excluded from the support network provided by Cuidiú.
“We follow the HSEs guiding principles on respectful and inclusive language.”
The charity went on to outline these principles. It said it uses simple, natural words and avoid medical jargon so everyone can understand health advice.
It replaces gender-specific job titles with neutral alternatives, such as using ‘chairperson’ instead of ‘chairman’.
Cuidiú added that it favours person-first language while respecting individual preferences, and avoids negative phrases like ‘suffers from’.
It highlighted its aim of keeping communication “kind, factual, and free of stereotypes across all digital and printed materials”.
The spokesperson concluded by saying that the charity does not wish to engage in any further public debate on the matter.
“Thanks to the in excess of 300 volunteers across our network who engage daily in the support of parents and their children,” they added.