I was 12 weeks pregnant at a fast-paced startup with no HR policies or parental leave guidelines, so I had to discuss my needs with the co-founders. They were supportive but didn't know what was normal for maternity leave, so we agreed on 12 weeks of paid leave. However, I felt anxious about coming back to work and wanted to continue working during my leave, as it would have been overwhelming to learn new processes and tech. Eventually, I checked emails and updated documents while caring for my newborn, feeling good about being able to balance work and family responsibilities. Looking back, I believe a one-size-fits-all policy doesn't make sense, and companies should offer customizable parental leave plans that allow employees to choose what works best for them. Communicating early and often with the team, setting a clear return-to-work date, respecting boundaries, preparing for no contact during the leave, being supportive of employee choices, and finding a hybrid plan that gave me control over my work schedule were key factors in making my experience successful.