OK, so I know that breastfeeding at work is not an option for many people. But if you've been following this blog, you already know that at Kars4Kids, I have access to an onsite daycare, making breastfeeding at work possible for me. But the argument I present here can probably also apply to pumping at work, a much more common arrangement.

On the face of it, taking periodic breaks for breastfeeding should kill your productivity. As I thought it did for the first couple of months back at work after my maternity leave.

But today, sitting in a comfortable rocking chair with my baby in a quiet lactation room, I realized that it need not be so.

I'd been having a relatively unproductive morning, spending much of it staring blankly at my computer screen. Ideas were just not flowing and I was feeling stuck in a rut. I kept getting distracted by side conversations and trivial emails. 

When I saw "babysitting room" on the caller ID, I figured I might as well write off the morning as wasted. Which was really too bad, considering how much work I had on my to do list.

Fast forward five minutes. Alone with my baby, my mind relaxed. Mulling over various items on my tasklist, suddenly the ideas flew. Ten minutes later, nursing session over, my baby was much happier and so was I. And I had three solid actionable ideas to take back with me to my desk.

Breastfeeding equals increased productivity? It sounds counterintuitive but it may just be true.